Winter Spice Soetkoekies ~ #CreativeCookieExchange

Winter Spice and everything nice, that's what these cookies are made of.
Geseende kersfees en voorspoedige nuwe jaar wense!

The #CreativeCookieExchange bakers are re-visiting International Traditional Winter Holiday Cookies for this months theme.  I am visiting South Africa for my cookie inspiration this month, and making Soetkoekies.

Soetkoekies translate as sweet cookies.  They are very similar to speculaas, which isn't really a surprise considering the Dutch colonization of South Africa.  I decided to make my own Winter Spice Blend to use as an ingredient in these cookies.

I'm pretty sure that everyone in South Africa has their own traditional recipe for these cookies, as there are a plethora of recipes available.  After looking through a few recipes, I settled on one and I was really happy with my choice. They invoked the holiday season, had just the right amount of spice for my family, and they had a crisp shortbread-like texture which is always a winner and cookies that contain a sweet wine are never a bad thing.

If you would like to know more about #CreativeCookieExchange and see what the other bakers made for the Warm Winter Drinks theme please scroll down below the recipe. Thanks to Laura from The Spiced Life, who is our fearless leader.

Winter Spice Soetkoekies
Printer Friend Recipe

Ingredients
Winter Spice Mix ~

• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 1 teaspoon cardamom
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon cloves
• ½ teaspoon coriander
• 2 teaspoons ginger
• ½ teaspoon dried orange peel

Cookies ~

• 675g (4¾) cups all-purpose flour
• 230g (1 cup) butter, slightly softened
• 300g (1½ cups) dark brown sugar, firmly packed
• 2 eggs
• 7g (½ teaspoon) baking soda
• 15ml (1 tablespoon) milk, slightly warmed
• 45ml (3 tablespoons) sweet wine (muscat, port, marsala, or sweet sherry)
• Pinch of salt
• 1 tablespoon Winter Spice Mix

Preparation
Winter Spice Mix ~

1. In a small bowl, add all of the spices and whisk until well combined; set aside.

Cookies ~

1. Add the butter and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, and mix on medium speed until light and fluffy.
2. Add eggs, one by one and beat well.
3. Slightly warm milk, and dissolve the baking soda in it, then add to the butter/egg mixture.
4. Add the wine, salt, and spice mixture, and mix thoroughly.
5. Add flour, and if the mixture is too soft add more flour.
6. Allow the dough to rest (at least two hours).
7. Pre-heat the oven to 180℃ (350℉).
8. Roll the dough out between two sheets of parchment paper until it is about 3 mm thick (⅛ inch).
9. Cut out into forms with a cookie cutter (a fluted round cookie cutter is a traditional form), trying not to over-handle the dough.
10. For best results, roll and cut small batches at a time and keep the rest of the dough in a cool place until you need it.
11. Bake at 180℃ (350℉) for about 15 minutes until light brown.
12. Carefully move the cookies to a rack to cool completely.

Everyone loves cookies at the holidays - no matter what holidays you are celebrating. And there are so many wonderful traditional cookies all over the world that we have decided to revisit this theme. Check out December 2014 for other choices from our first time doing it. And get inspired to get into the kitchen! You can also use us as a great resource for cookie recipes. Be sure to check out our Pinterest Board and our monthly posts (you can find all of them here at The Spiced Life). You will be able to find them the first Tuesday after the 15th of each month! If you are a blogger and want to join in the fun, contact Laura at thespicedlife AT gmail DOT com and she will get you added to our Facebook group, where we discuss our cookies and share links.

If you are looking for inspiration to get in the kitchen and start baking, check out what all of the hosting bloggers have made ~

• Winter Spice Soetkoekies from All That's Left Are The Crumbs
• Italian Ring Cookies from What Smells So Good?
• Lebkuchen from 2 Cookin Mamas
• Peppermint Pinwheels from Queen Bee Baker
• Noche Buena Chocolate Sandwich Cookies from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Italian Vanilla Bean Pizzelles from Cream and Butter Baking
• Alfajores from The Spiced Life