Pepernoten are a cookie-like kind of confectionery, traditionally associated with the early December Sinterklaas

Sinterklaas

Sinterklaas is a traditional Winter holiday figure still celebrated today in the Low Countries, including the Netherlands and Belgium, as well as French Flanders and Artois...

 holiday in the Netherlands.

Are light brown, randomly shaped, and made from the same ingredients as taai-taai (flour, sugar, anise, cinnamon, and clove) and is fairly chewy, though it hardens gradually when exposed to the air.

A particularly distinct custom associated with pepernoten is throwing them in handfuls through the room so children can look for them. Originally this is an ancient fertility symbol (like a farmer sowing seeds) not unlike throwing rice at a marriage.

Kruidnoten

People mistakenly confuse Kruidnoten with Pepernoten. Kruidnoten are harder, have different colour and shape and are made using the same ingredients used for making speculaas

Speculaas

Speculoos is a type of shortcrust biscuit, traditionally baked for consumption on St Nicholas' Eve in the Netherlands , Belgium . and Northern France. In recent decades it has become available all year round...

.

There is another variety of Kruidnoten called 'chocolade-kruidnoten'. These are regular kruidnoten covered in either milk, dark or white chocolate.