Spekulatius

This is another Christmas cookie that I make every year, and is also a source of contention between my sister-in-law and brother, and myself. They maintain that it should be made with almonds, I maintain that it should be made with hazelnuts. I think they taste better, though I will give in that the bitter almond probably marries better with the almonds than the filberts. This is another Dr. Oetker recipe. When I say Dash of spice, the recipe says that it's about the amount on the very end of a knife (so, in other words, a very small amount). If you like the taste of these spices, feel free to add more, but this amount comes through fine. This recipe I would think needs to be done by hand, rather than using a Kitchenaid mixer.

Spekulatius
500 g flour
6 g (2 tsp.) baking powder
250 g sugar
3 tsp. vanilla sugar
2 dashes ground Cardomon
2 dashes ground Cloves
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. bitter almond
1 egg and 3 Tbsp. Milk (or two eggs)
100 g ground hazelnuts (or almonds)
200 g Butter

Mix flour and baking power and sieve onto a counter surface or kitchen pad. Create a well in the center of the heap; add within this well the sugar, spices, egg and milk (or eggs), and bitter almond. Work this all together to make a mealy consistency. Cut the cold butter into chunks, then add to the flour mixture, as well as the ground nuts and work the butter into the flour until a dough is formed. Roll the dough out, cut with cookie cutters and place on a baking sheet. Cook for 8-12 minutes at 175-195C (350F).