Sections
  • News & Politics
  • Food
  • Things to Do
  • Washingtonian Events
  • Home & Style
  • Editors’ Picks
  • Events Calendar
  • Health
  • Longreads
  • Parenting
  • Real Estate
  • Shopping
  • Travel
  • Weddings
Reader Favorites
  • 100 Very Best Restaurants
  • DC-Area Events Calendar
  • Brunch
  • Neighborhoods
  • Newsletters
  • Directories
  • Washingtonian Events
Washington’s Best
  • Apartment Rentals
  • DC Travel Guide
  • Dentists
  • Doctors
  • Financial Advisers
  • Health Experts
  • Home Improvement Experts
  • Industry Leaders
  • Lawyers
  • Mortgage Professionals
  • Pet Care
  • Private Schools
  • Real Estate Agents
  • Restaurants
  • Retirement Communities
  • Wedding Vendors
© 2023 Washingtonian Media Inc.
Privacy Policy
All Rights Reserved
 Rss
Skip to content
Washingtonian.com
  • Search
  • Subscribe
  • Menu
Washingtonian.com
  • Subscribe
Reader Favorites
  • 100 Very Best Restaurants
  • DC-Area Events Calendar
  • Brunch
  • Neighborhoods
  • Newsletters
  • Directories
  • Washingtonian Events
More
  • Subscribe
  • Manage My Subscription
  • Digital Edition
  • Shop
  • Contests
  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
Sections
  • News & Politics
  • Food
  • Things to Do
  • Washingtonian Events
  • Home & Style
  • Editors’ Picks
  • Events Calendar
  • Health
  • Longreads
  • Parenting
  • Real Estate
  • Shopping
  • Travel
  • Weddings
  • News & Politics
  • Things to Do
  • Food
  • Health
  • Shopping
  • Home & Style
  • Real Estate
  • Weddings
  • Travel

  • 100 Very Best Restaurants
  • DC-Area Events Calendar
  • Brunch
  • Neighborhoods
  • Newsletters
  • Directories
  • Washingtonian Events
  • Trending Now in Food
  • Albi
  • Nationals 2023
  • cherry blossom
  • Easter
  • All Souls
Food

Where You Can Find Speculoos Cookie Desserts in Washington

The spiced European confections go from the grocery store to high-end pastry menus.

Written by Ann Limpert
| Published on March 24, 2015
Tweet Share
Photography by Scott Suchman

It wasn’t too long ago that our Facebook newsfeeds began to be overtaken with status updates swooning over the wonders of Trader Joe’s “cookie butter.” The grocery chain’s decadent spread—a sweet paste with spicing reminiscent of gingerbread—may be modern, but the basis of the bestselling stuff is something that’s been popular, at least in Belgium, for decades: speculoos cookies. Now pastry chefs at restaurants of all levels—and even Ben & Jerry’s—are capitalizing on our appetite for the cinnamon-and-clove-scented confections. Let’s start with the humble end of the spectrum:

Ben & Jerry’s (area grocery stores) — The cookies hit the ice-cream aisle in the new Spectacular Speculoos, a vertically layered pint holding caramel and vanilla ice creams and cookie butter.

Et Voila! (5120 MacArthur Blvd., NW; 202-237-2300) — What Oreos are to kids in the States, speculoos are to children in Belgium—so it stands to reason the treats would crop up at this Flemish and French bistro, which serves ice cream made by infusing milk with the aromatic cookies.

Mintwood Place (1813 Columbia Rd., NW; 202-234-6732) — Crumbled speculoos take the place of traditional graham crackers for this rustic Adams Morgan restaurant’s Key-lime pie.

Blue Duck Tavern (1201 24th St., NW; 202-419-6755) — Pastry chef Naomi Gallego reimagines grandmotherly tea and cookies by pairing Earl Grey custard with speculoos and mandarin-orange sorbet.

Quill (1200 16th St., NW; 202-448-2300) — The Jefferson hotel’s swank cocktail lounge accents its tart lemon custard with caramel containing a dose of cookie paste.

This article appears in our April 2015 issue of Washingtonian.

More: Best BitesFood Trends
Join the conversation!
Share Tweet
Ann Limpert
Ann Limpert
Executive Food Editor/Critic

Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Logan Circle.

Most Popular in Food

1

Here Are the DC-Area James Beard Award Finalists for 2023

2

The 100 Very Best Restaurants in Washington

3

Uber Eats Biker’s Viral Instagram Videos Reveal What DC Food Delivery Is Really Like

4

These DC Bars Are Decorated With Cherry Blossoms

5

6 Exciting New Things to Expect at Nationals Park This Season

Washingtonian Magazine

April 2023: Real Estate 2023

April 2023: Real Estate 2023

View Issue
Subscribe

Follow Us on Social

We'll help you live your best #DCLIFE every day

Follow Us on Social

We'll help you live your best #DCLIFE every day

Related

The Magic Mold Chefs Can’t Stop Adding to Their Dishes

Photos From Washingtonian’s Talk & Taste, Sponsored by Chubb

late-night-snack

Planning Your Wedding Menu? Here’s the Case for the Late-Night Snack

drink-station-ideas

Say Cheers! 3 Boozy Bar Ideas That Will Elevate Your Signature Wedding Cocktail

More from Food

The Speakeasy Just Won’t Die

Franks at Haute Dogs and Fries. Photograph by Scott Suchman.

Your Guide to Eating and Drinking Inside Nationals Park

Nationals Opening Day Food and Drink Specials Around Navy Yard

Here Are the DC-Area James Beard Award Finalists for 2023

These DC Bars Are Decorated With Cherry Blossoms

Uber Eats Biker’s Viral Instagram Videos Reveal What DC Food Delivery Is Really Like

6 Exciting New Things to Expect at Nationals Park This Season

8 Spots for Cherry Blossom High Tea Around DC

© 2023 Washingtonian Media Inc.
All Rights Reserved.
Washingtonian is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Privacy Policy and Opt-Out
 Rss
Get the best news, delivered weekly.
By signing up, you agree to our terms.
  • Subscribe
  • Manage My Subscription
  • Digital Edition
  • Shop
  • Contests
  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs