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Raisin buns are called ‘krentenbollen’ in Dutch - krenten’ means currants.

A speculaas raisin bun has elements of a hot cross bun and a krentenbol: not only the raisins and currants are infused with vandotsch speculaas spice but also the dough.

In March 2016, I was diagnosed with Vasculitis - a relatively rare disease literally meaning 'inflammation of the blood vessels and arteries'. I for one had never heard of this disease, nor its potential to kill if not diagnosed and treated in time.

I have been lucky, because I was diagnosed early enough for the treatment to start in time.

Frank Zweerus – best artisan bagel baker in The Netherlands – used vandotsch speculaas spice to create Betterbagels Speculaas Bagels.

Frank makes his bagels in a semi-artisan way, using traditional methods, in his own bakery called BetterBagels, in Leiden, where the bagels are boiled before being baked. This provides a unique taste and texture.

Challah is a special Jewish bread, usually braided and typically eaten on ceremonial occasions such as the Sabbath and major Jewish festivals (other than Passover).

On Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, the challah is often rolled into a circular shape, referred to as a "Turban Challah". Let's make a vandotsch speculaas spiced orange 'Turban Challah' with raisins and currants.

Speculaas cheesecake with damson jam. Having a jar of vandotsch speculaas spice infused damson jam in the fridge I decided to use some to make a speculaas damson cheesecake.

That was a good move!

It's August, it must be time for vandotsch speculaas spice infused damson jam. Damsons are part of the plum family, shaped oval and when ripe very dark blue purple, almost black.

Having harvested about 3kg of fresh and juicy damsons. I decided to pair them with home grown blackberries and vandotsch speculaas spice to make speculaas spice damson jam.

Great British Bake-Off: You are never too young - or too old - to succeed on the Great British Bake Off

What Bake Off has done for us is make the country fall back in love with baking again. Whatever your age, baking is cool again. Steven Dotsch interviewed by Eleanor Doughty

Clean sterilised jars are essential to the success and longevity of the jams and preserves you spend a lot of time making.

Obviously, at The Speculaas Spice Company we sterialise our 60ml vandotsch speculaas spice jars in exactly the same way.

Who’s For Dinner with Steven Dotsch, The Speculaas Spice Master Chef? interview by Jill for Gourmandize.com

The vandotsch speculaas spice mix is based on his Dutch grandmother’s sweet tasting spice mix.

UK Award Winning British Pastry Chef Emma Carlton used some of our speculaas spice to create a speculaas cheesecake with apple butter and vanilla.

This recipe embraces the aromatics and warmth of the vandotsch speculaas spice mix. The richness and tang of fresh cream cheese, finished with a sweet and sour applebutter is a delightful combination