Deliciously Chewy Pepernoten Brownies: The Ultimate Sinterklaas Gingerbread Treat Recipe

These pepernoten brownies, infused with a festive gingerbread flavor, are wonderfully soft and irresistibly chewy. Each bite offers a rich, creamy chocolate filling, making them an ideal treat for Sinterklaas Eve on December 5th. Prepare to delight your family and friends with this unique holiday dessert!

As December 5th approaches, the air in the Netherlands fills with the delightful anticipation of Sinterklaas Eve, a time for joyous celebrations, gifts, and, of course, delicious treats. For many, this cherished holiday isn’t complete without the distinctive taste of pepernoten. This year, I’m bringing a beloved Sinterklaas classic into a new dimension with this incredible pepernoten brownie recipe. My secret? I gently fold crumbled pepernoten directly into the rich, fudgy brownie batter. As they bake, these spiced mini cookies soften beautifully, releasing their unique gingerbread essence and infusing every piece of brownie with an aromatic, festive flavor that my kids absolutely adore!

Embrace the Sinterklaas Spirit with Homemade Pepernoten Brownies

Sinterklaas, also known as Saint Nicholas, is a revered figure in Dutch folklore, arriving annually from Spain to deliver presents and treats to children. Central to these celebrations are ‘kruidnoten’ (often colloquially referred to as ‘pepernoten’), small, hard spiced biscuits that taste like a blend of gingerbread and speculaas. But what if you could take that beloved spice and combine it with the ultimate chocolatey indulgence? These pepernoten brownies do just that! They offer a delightful fusion of traditional Dutch flavors and a universally loved American dessert, creating a festive treat that’s both familiar and exciting.

Baking these brownies isn’t just about creating a dessert; it’s about embracing the warmth and tradition of the holiday season. The inviting aroma of chocolate and gingerbread spice will fill your kitchen, making the preparation itself a part of the Sinterklaas magic. Whether you’re hosting a Sinterklaas gathering, looking for a unique gift, or simply want to treat your family, these brownies are sure to become a cherished part of your holiday baking repertoire.

What Makes These Pepernoten Brownies Unforgettable?

• Perfect Texture: Expect a truly fudgy center with delightfully chewy edges. This texture is achieved through the careful balance of butter, chocolate, and sugar.
• Unique Flavor Profile: The star of the show is the subtle yet distinct gingerbread flavor from the pepernoten, perfectly complementing the rich, dark chocolate. It’s a taste experience that’s both comforting and exciting.
• Creamy Chocolate Filling: The generous amount of dark chocolate ensures a deeply satisfying and creamy chocolate experience in every bite.
• Easy to Make: Despite their gourmet taste, these brownies are surprisingly simple to prepare, making them accessible for bakers of all skill levels.
• Holiday Favorite: Specifically designed for Sinterklaas Eve, they’re the ultimate festive treat that stands out from typical holiday cookies.

The Magic of Pepernoten: A Classic Dutch Treat Transformed

Pepernoten, or more accurately ‘kruidnoten,’ are small, round, and hard biscuits deeply ingrained in Dutch Sinterklaas traditions. Their distinctive flavor comes from a blend of spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, white pepper, and ginger, reminiscent of speculaas. When these crunchy treats are crumbled and mixed into a soft brownie batter, something magical happens. The heat of the oven transforms them from crispy to soft, infusing the entire brownie with their fragrant, warming spice blend. This clever incorporation means you get the essence of pepernoten in every mouthful, without the texture being overly crunchy or hard.

Using pepernoten in brownies is a wonderful way to introduce a touch of Dutch culinary heritage to a broader audience or to simply put a festive twist on a classic. It adds an authentic, seasonal touch that will transport anyone who tries them straight to a cozy Sinterklaas celebration.

Essential Ingredients for Your Perfect Pepernoten Brownies

Creating these sensational brownies requires a few key ingredients, each playing a vital role in achieving their perfect texture and flavor:

• Unsalted Butter & Dark Chocolate: The foundation of any good brownie! Melting these together creates a rich, fudgy base that’s essential for a moist and dense crumb. Opt for good quality dark chocolate (around 70% cocoa) for the best flavor.
• Eggs: Large eggs provide structure and richness, helping to bind the ingredients and contribute to that coveted chewy texture.
• Sugar: Granulated sugar not only sweetens but also helps create that desirable shiny, crackly top crust characteristic of perfect brownies.
• Self-Rising Flour: This makes the baking process simpler, as the leavening agent is already included, ensuring a slight rise without making the brownies cakey.
• Dutch Unprocessed Cocoa: Adds depth to the chocolate flavor. Dutch-processed cocoa is less acidic, resulting in a darker color and smoother taste.
• Vanilla Extract & Salt: These essential flavor enhancers highlight the chocolate and spice notes, balancing the sweetness.
• Pepernoten (Crumbled): The star ingredient! Crumbled pepernoten provide the unique gingerbread flavor. Make sure they are finely crushed to blend seamlessly into the batter.

Tips for Baking Flawless Pepernoten Brownies

Achieving the perfect brownie is all about a few crucial details:

• Don’t Overbake: This is perhaps the most important tip for fudgy brownies. When you remove them from the oven, they should still look slightly underdone and appear a bit too soft in the center. Don’t worry, this is normal! They will continue to set as they cool. Overbaking leads to dry, cakey brownies, which we want to avoid for that signature chewy texture.
• Cool Completely: Patience is key! Allow the brownies to cool entirely to room temperature before slicing. This allows them to fully set and firm up, ensuring clean cuts and the perfect fudgy consistency. Trying to slice them while warm will result in a messy, crumbly experience.
• Pepernoten Variations: While classic pepernoten are fantastic, feel free to experiment! You can use ground chocolate pepernoten for an extra chocolatey kick, or ground speculaas or even gingerbread cookies if pepernoten are hard to find. Any spiced biscuit will work to give that festive flavor.
• Oven Temperature: The recipe is typically for a conventional oven. If you are using a convection oven (with an air fan), it’s generally a good practice to decrease the temperature by about 30°F / 20°C to prevent them from baking too quickly and drying out.

Storage and Freezing Instructions

To keep your pepernoten brownies tasting their best, proper storage is essential:

• Room Temperature is Best: Always store brownies at room temperature in an airtight container. Storing them in the refrigerator can alter their delightful chewy and fudgy texture, making them drier and harder.
• Shelf Life: When stored correctly at room temperature, these brownies will stay fresh and delicious for up to one week.
• Freezing for Later: Brownies freeze exceptionally well! Place them in an airtight container or freezer bag, and they can be stored in the freezer for up to three months.
• Pro Tip for Freezing: For ultimate convenience, slice the cooled brownies into individual cubes or small portions before freezing. Wrap each portion individually in plastic wrap or parchment paper, then place them in a freezer-safe container. This way, you can easily defrost only the amount you need, whenever a craving strikes!

Customize Your Pepernoten Brownies: Creative Variations

While these pepernoten brownies are perfect as is, you can always get creative and customize them to your liking:

• Extra Chocolate: Fold in an extra half cup of chocolate chips (milk, dark, or white) into the batter for an even more intense chocolate experience.
• Nutty Crunch: Add chopped walnuts or pecans to the batter for a delightful textural contrast.
• White Chocolate Drizzle: Once cooled, melt some white chocolate and drizzle it decoratively over the top of the brownies. This adds a beautiful visual appeal and an extra layer of sweetness.
• Powdered Sugar Dusting: For a simple yet elegant finish, dust the cooled brownies with a light layer of powdered sugar, especially beautiful during the festive season.
• Cream Cheese Swirl: For a truly decadent twist, prepare a simple cream cheese swirl (cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk) and swirl it into the brownie batter before baking.

Serving Suggestions for a Festive Treat

These pepernoten brownies are versatile and can be enjoyed in many ways:

• With Coffee or Tea: They make a perfect companion to a warm cup of coffee, tea, or even a spiced chai latte.
• Dessert Platter: Cut into small squares, they’re an excellent addition to any holiday dessert platter, offering a unique flavor alongside other festive treats.
• Warm with Ice Cream: For a truly indulgent dessert, warm a brownie square slightly and serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, perhaps with a sprinkle of extra pepernoten crumbs.
• Edible Gifts: Package a few slices in a decorative box or bag as a thoughtful homemade gift for friends, family, or teachers during the Sinterklaas season.

📖 Recipe: Pepernoten Brownies

RECIPE CARD

Pepernoten Brownies

Andréa

These pepernoten brownies are wonderfully soft and chewy with a creamy chocolate filling and a delightful gingerbread pepernoten taste. A perfect treat to celebrate Sinterklaas Eve!

5 of 2 votes

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Sweets and Sweet Baking

Cuisine American, Dutch

Servings 16 pieces

Calories 199 kcal

Equipment

• Baking tin (approx. 8×8 inch / 20×20 cm), baking paper, sauce pan, large mixing bowls, electric mixer, spatula

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Ingredients

• ▢ 60 grams unsalted butter
• ▢ 125 grams dark chocolate, chopped into small pieces (70% cocoa recommended)
• ▢ 4 large eggs
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon salt
• ▢ 50 grams pepernoten, crumbled or finely ground
• ▢ 200 grams self-rising flour
• ▢ 200 grams granulated sugar
• ▢ 20 grams Dutch unprocessed cocoa
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

All my recipes are written both in Metric (gram / ml) and US Customary (cups / pounds). Here you can select which type of amount you would like to see.

Instructions

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  1. Prepare Oven: Preheat your oven to 355 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius). Line the bottom of an approximately 8×8 inch (20×20 cm) baking tin with parchment paper.
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  2. Melt Chocolate Mixture: In a medium saucepan, combine the unsalted butter and chopped dark chocolate. Melt them gently over low heat, stirring continuously until smooth and fully combined. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
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  3. Whip Eggs and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs, granulated sugar, and salt with an electric mixer on high speed for about 2 minutes, until the mixture is light, foamy, and airy. Stir in the vanilla extract.
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  4. Fold in Chocolate: Gently add the slightly cooled melted butter and chocolate mixture to the egg and sugar mixture. Fold everything together carefully with a spatula until just combined.
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  5. Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Sift the self-rising flour and Dutch unprocessed cocoa into the wet batter. Mix through with a spatula until no dry streaks remain, being careful not to overmix.
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  6. Fold in Pepernoten: Gently fold the crumbled pepernoten into the batter. Ensure they are evenly distributed.
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  7. Bake: Pour the batter into your prepared brownie tin and spread evenly. Place it in the preheated oven. Bake for approximately 25 minutes. The center might still look a bit soft, which is perfect for fudgy brownies.
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  8. Cool: Remove the brownies from the oven and let them cool completely to room temperature in the tin. This is crucial for them to set properly and achieve a truly fudgy texture.
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  9. Serve: Once completely cool, lift the brownies out of the tin using the parchment paper and cut them into 16 square blocks. Enjoy your festive pepernoten brownies!

Notes

• Pepernoten Alternatives: If traditional pepernoten are unavailable, you can substitute with ground chocolate pepernoten, speculaas cookies, or even gingersnap cookies for a similar spiced flavor profile.
• Cooling is Key: Don’t be alarmed if the brownies appear too soft when first removed from the oven. They will firm up considerably as they cool to room temperature, developing their signature fudgy texture. Patience is a virtue here!
• Baking Time & Oven Types: Baking time may vary slightly depending on your oven. For convection ovens (with an air fan), consider reducing the temperature by 20°C / 30°F.
• Storage: Store brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. Avoid refrigeration as it can dry them out.
• Freezing: For longer storage, freeze sliced brownies in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Wrap individual portions to easily thaw what you need.

Nutrition

Calories: 199kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 4gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 97mgFiber: 2gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 156IUIron: 2mg

Keyword blondies and brownies recipe, pepernoten, Sinterklaas, gingerbread

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