Pfeffernuesse Cookies
A German holiday tradition, these fragrant cookies pack a warm rush of spices in every bite. Also called peppernuts, they go wonderfully with coffee or tea.—Joanne Nelson, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup butter, cubed
- 1/4 cup shortening
- 2 large eggs
- 1-1/2 teaspoons anise extract
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 3/4 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar
Reviews
I made the recipe as it is written. I liked the taste of the cookies, but they flattened out instead of being dome shaped. This made the a little on the hard side. I will probably try a different recipe next time.
Great recipe. I didn't get10 dozen and I measured the one inch balls, but these were delicious.. Hard to put down. I'll definitely make them again. I did add a bit more cloves, pepper and cardamon as I can't seem to follow any recipe exactly!
These were perfect! Easy to make and loved the spice level. Delicious with warm apple cider or tea! YUM!
This recipe looks like my grandmother's recipe, but since she wrote it by hand, it's a little difficult to read. I haven't made it in a long time and now I have the baking bug. Thomas: you may have gotten a recipe from a different region. All the pfefferneusse recipes I've seen do not have raisins and nuts in them.
real pfeffernaus cookies have seeded muscat raisins and walnuts.
I so would have loved to make these cookies from my mother, but, $12.50 for 1 oz of ground cardamom, it would be cheaper to go to the grocery store and pay $3.99 for 12 cookies and say "here Mom". . .
oh heck yah I'll be making these BUT, being Norwegian we bump up the spices even more-can't wait.I was very disappointed with the molasses cookies I made and the ginger snaps as well. this seems sure to be a sure fire pleaser.
Have made these the past couple years and everyone raved about them!
I thought the spices were good in this cookie but they failed to impress me, they were more like a molasses/spice cookie. I will go back to the recipe I've always used & won't make these again.