Can I change the ratio of the spices?
Of course, you can make it your own spice blend. That’s part of the fun. For example, don’t like nutmeg or cloves? You can halve the amount.
Perfect to make yourself and to have around the house during the holidays: gingerbread spices. In the Netherlands, this spice mix is hard to come by, so I always make it myself.
I used to just add the spices for gingerbread recipes separately with each recipe, but that’s totally impractical. Especially if you like to bake with gingerbread spices like I do.
From now on, I (and you!) won’t have to deal with loose spices in every recipe, because I’ve made my own gingerbread spice mix. Since I wrote this recipe, the jar has already been refilled with a new homemade gingerbread spice mix. It went through several Christmas recipes I made in the last few weeks.
If you love gingerbread, I recommend you make enough and stock up 😉
As mentioned above, these spices are not easily available in the Netherlands. Therefore, an alternative is often chosen: Speculaas spice mix! This is a really typical Dutch spice mix, and of course I have a recipe for it.
Pumpkin spice is also a good alternative. Just remember that your recipe will taste different if you use an alternative.
Every year I bake something with that famous gingerbread flavor. It’s a bit like our speculaas spice mix, but this gingerbread spice mix obviously contains more ginger.
While cinnamon is the dominant spice in the speculaas spice mix and usually at least 5-6 spices are added, the gingerbread spice mix is a bit simpler.
The gingerbread spice mix contains as much ginger as cinnamon, but because ginger is quite strong, you will taste it more. In addition, nutmeg and cloves come through, making it a truly wintry flavor combination.
Of course, you can make it your own spice blend. That’s part of the fun. For example, don’t like nutmeg or cloves? You can halve the amount.
Of all the spices in the ingredient list, I use the powder variety. So a mortar is not necessary.
Absolutely. Just as speculaas spice mix tastes great in a stew, so does gingerbread spice mix. Experiment and share your results in the comments so other readers (and me 😉 ) can enjoy.
Basically, you can use any glass jar that you can seal airtight. Personally, I use a small jar like the one in the picture.
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