Pfeffernusse Cookies Recipe

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.

Pfeffernusse Cookies Recipe

Pfeffernusse Cookies Recipe

Krysta
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.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Additional Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine German
Servings 18
Calories 284 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup molasses
  • ¼ cup honey
  • ¼ cup shortening
  • ¼ cup margarine
  • 2 large eggs
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup white sugar
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons anise extract
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cardamom
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup confectioners’ sugar for dusting

Instructions
 

  • Place molasses, honey, shortening, and margarine in a saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir until creamy.
  • Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Beat in eggs.
  • Combine flour, white sugar, brown sugar, anise, cinnamon, cardamom, baking soda, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, black pepper, and salt in a large bowl.
  • Add molasses mixture; stir until thoroughly combined. Refrigerate dough until well chilled, about 2 hours.
  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
  • Roll dough into acorn-sized balls and place 1 inch apart on baking sheets.
  • 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.
  • Dust cooled cookies with confectioners’ sugar. Store in an airtight container.

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