Instructions: Prepare this traditional treat for all your cookie-eaters. Speculass (Latin for mirror) are a crisp, spicy, brown-sugar cookie, that tastes somewhat like gingerbread and can be made into many different shapes and sizes.

Because the cookie dough will "mirror" nearly any shape or size cookie, try windmills, animals, hearts or any cookie mold or cutter shape you have and enjoy this recipe all through the holidays.

Makes Approximately 5-Dozen Small Cookies

In a large mixing bowl combine butter and vanilla with both sugars and beat until light and fluffy. Add beaten eggs and blend well. Sift the flour and all remaining dry ingredients together and beat into the butter mixture.

Either form the cookies now, or divide the dough and chill overnight.

Form the cookies now by rolling small pieces of dough into balls and baking on a greased cookie sheet in a pre-heated 350-F degree oven for 10-15 minutes.

After chilling the dough, either cut the rolls into 1/8-inch thick slices and place on a greased cookie sheet about 1/2-in apart, or roll the cooled dough out into 1/4-inch thick portions and cut with cookie cutters. Bake in a pre-heated 350-F degree oven for 10-15 minutes and store in an airtight container.

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