Pfeffernusse cookies baked today!

Today is the day that I've decided to bake up a batch of my favorite Christmas cookies! These cookies are soooo yummy with such an intricate mix of flavors. This is a very old traditional German cookie that was only made at Christmas time- and yes I only make them once a year too.  Pfeffernusse translates into pepper nuts which give you a hint of the strong spicy flavor. You actually use white pepper in these cookies along with a host of other spices. The thing about these cookies is they are just like a batch of chili or good spaghetti sauce, the flavor increases as time goes by- this is why I always make them a week or 2 before Christmas and let them sit in an airtight container. They are very soft and cakelike, and you roll them in powdered sugar once they have cooled down for an extra sweet flavor on top. You can also roll them in the powdered sugar again before serving as it tends to seep into the cookie as they sit in the container. Here is the recipe I use, and old recipe handed down from my german grandmother. Give them a try if you really like spicy cookies, and be prepared and wear awhite shirt-  dusting them in the powdered sugar is very messy!


Pfeffernusse Cookies


1 cup butter, 3 eggs

1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup white suger

5 cups flour

4 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg, ½ tsp white pepper

1 tsp anise extract, 1tsp ground cloves

½ cup molasses, 1 ½ cups milk

Cream together butter, sugar, and eggs. Alternate adding the dry

ingredients and liquid. Drop by a teaspoonful onto cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 10-15 minutes. Dust in powdered sugar once cookies

have cooled. These freeze or store great in an airtight container- redust in powdered sugar

before serving.

Makes 5 to 6 dozen- cut recipe in half for smaller for 2-3 dozen.

Enjoy! Anne