What Is Cookie Butter? Everything to Know About the Spread

People are crazy about cookie butter, and for good reason! This sweet spread has been delighting Americans since 2011, but Europeans have been loving it for much longer. Here’s everything you need to know about what’s sure to be your newest obsession (if it isn’t already!).

What is cookie butter?

Cookie butter is a spread made from ground-up spice cookies called speculoos created in the heart of Europe. Just as gingerbread cookies are a holiday tradition in the US, these speculoos cookies are being baked in ovens all across Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands when winter comes around. Like our gingerbread, everyone has their own special recipe, varying the spices, shape, and size. The paste created from these aromatic cookies is rich and indulgent with a wonderfully creamy consistency.

How are you supposed to use cookie butter?

Cookie butter is used in European bakeries much the same way peanut butter is used in America. Because of their similarities, cookie butter can be used in many applications where you would usually see a nut butter. It’s excellent in cookies and bars, perfect on toast, and many folks declare that it’s best eaten right out of the jar with a spoon. We love it with these s’mookies.

Where can you find cookie butter?

Trader Joe’s sells its own brand of cookie butter called Speculoos Cookie Butter, with varieties ranging from creamy to cocoa-swirl, and Amazon sells the original Lotus brand Biscoff cookie spread (as well as the cookies that started it all). In a demonstration of excellent taste, Ben & Jerry’s created an ice cream making use of cookie butter, aptly calling it Spectacular Speculoos. You can even make your own cookie butter by blending Biscoff cookies, a little fat, some water, and a touch of sweetener.

Some food crazes are unwarranted, but that’s definitely not the case with cookie butter. It’s versatile, flavorful, and satisfying, and it’s worthy of everyone’s excitement.