Spiced Jumble Cookies
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Jumbles are no longer cookies that are normally seen at Christmas, but these old-fashioned treats were once the only cookies available to people! This recipe for Spiced Jumble Cookies is inspired after an 1879 recipe. The flavor is a unique blend of historical spices like mace and allspice paired with a subtle hint of rose! These have become one of my favorite holiday cookie recipes. If you enjoy historical recipes, then you will be sure to appreciate this one!
What are Jumbles?
Did you know that jumbles, also spelled jumbals or jumballs, were a type of sugar cookie or biscuit popular in the 17th and 18th centuries? These little cookies were often made with rose water, anise, almond meal, and the typical spices of the time period: cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger. I was intrigued to find that several recipes for cookies from the 1700s included ground coriander!
Jumbles were baked in a moderately heated brick oven, or even boiled. Traditionally, they would be shaped like a braid or a pretzel knot. This cookie recipe has been adjusted to a drop cookie recipe and enhanced with modern baking ingredients like cream of tartar and baking soda to give them some lift!
Why You’ll Love These Cookies:
Easy to Make. These cookies are incredibly easy to make, though they do have some interesting ingredients!
Comes Together Quickly. You can whip up a batch of jumbles in about 30 to 40 minutes. This cookie dough does not require chilling.
A Taste of History. The flavor of these cookies is truly unique, but it is absolutely delicious! I was unsure if I would like these cookies when I was testing the recipe, and I fell in love with the flavor.
Gathering Ingredients:
Butter. Bring your butter to room temperature, or around 62° F (16° C) for the perfect cookies.
Sugar. You will want to use granulated sugar for this recipe. Light brown sugar can also be used, but it will alter the color and flavor of the cookies!
Egg. You will need one egg and one egg white, at room temperature.
Rose Water. You can easily find rose water online or at specialty food stores! If you cannot find rose water, you can substitute it with vanilla or almond extract.
Flour.
Almond Flour. Almond flour gives these cookies a lovely chewy texture and slighty nutty flavor.
Cream of Tartar.
Baking Soda.
Mace. If you cannot find mace, you can swap out the measurement for a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of ground black pepper.
Allspice.
Coriander.
How to Make Spiced Jumbles:
Step One: In the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar until they are light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the egg and the egg white, beating them into the butter mixture until they are pale and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes. Then, stir in the rose water.
Step Two: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, almond flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, coriander, mace, and allspice. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on medium speed until a dough forms and everything is well mixed together. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix again, if needed, about 4 minutes total.
Step Three: Shape the dough into balls that are about 2 tablespoons worth in size. Arrange the dough on the baking sheets about 2-inches (5-cm) apart.
Step Four: Bake the cookies for about 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges the set and they are a light golden brown. Remove the baking sheets from the oven and leave the cookies to rest on the trays for a further 5 minutes. Then, transfer to the cookies to a wire cooling rack.
Step Five: Store the cookies in airtight containers at room temperature for about 4 to 5 days. They can also be frozen!
Serving Suggestions:
These cookies, while simple, are packed full of delicious historical flavor! They pair well with a cup of hot chocolate or morning coffee, and they are a great filler recipe for a delightful holiday cookie box.
2023 Christmas Cookie Box
Final Thoughts:
Spiced Jumble Cookies bring the past into the present with their rich history and timeless flavor. Their intricate shapes and warm spices make them a standout addition to your holiday baking repertoire. Whether you’re sharing them with family or exploring the joys of historical recipes, these cookies are sure to delight.
xoxo Kayla
Spiced Jumbles
Ingredients
- 1 cup (232 g) salted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups (300 g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 egg white
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) rose water
- 3 1/4 cups (422 g) all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup (25 g) almond flour
- 1 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp ground mace
- 1 tsp ground allspice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375° F (191° C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper and set these aside for now.
- In the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar until they are light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the egg and the egg white, beating them into the butter mixture until they are pale and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes. Then, stir in the rose water.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, almond flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, coriander, mace, and allspice. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on medium speed until a dough forms and everything is well mixed together. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix again, if needed, about 4 minutes total.
- Shape the dough into balls that are about 2 tablespoons worth in size. Arrange the dough on the baking sheets about 2-inches (5-cm) apart.
- Bake the cookies for about 10 to 12 minutes, or until the edges the set and they are a light golden brown. Remove the baking sheets from the oven and leave the cookies to rest on the trays for a further 5 minutes. Then, transfer to the cookies to a wire cooling rack.
- Store the cookies in airtight containers at room temperature for about 4 to 5 days. They can also be frozen!
Notes
*If you do not have access to rose water, you can use vanilla or almond extract in its place.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
151Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
