Pfeffernüsse are German Christmas cookies spiced with black pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, and other spices. I have searched far and wide for a recipe that mimics my favorite, store-bought version of these cookies. After days of thrown-out cookies, I think I have come as close as I can get.
Ingredients
- 0.5 cups molasses
- 0.25 cups honey
- 0.25 cups shortening
- 0.25 cups margarine
- 2 large eggs
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 0.75 cups white sugar
- 0.5 cups brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons anise extract
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1.5 teaspoons ground cardamom
- 1.5 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 0.5 teaspoons salt
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar for dusting
Instructions
-
1
Gather the ingredients.
-
2
Place molasses, honey, shortening, and margarine in a saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir until creamy.
-
3
Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Beat in eggs.
-
4
Combine flour, white sugar, brown sugar, anise, cinnamon, cardamom, baking soda, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, black pepper, and salt in a large bowl.
-
5
Add molasses mixture; stir until thoroughly combined. Refrigerate dough until well chilled, about 2 hours.
-
6
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Roll dough into acorn-sized balls and place 1 inch apart on baking sheets.
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7
Bake in the preheated oven until firm to the touch with slight cracking, 10 to 15 minutes. Cool on the baking sheets briefly before removing them to a wire rack to cool completely.
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8
Dust cooled cookies with confectioners' sugar. Store in an airtight container.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving
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