Pfeffernusse is a traditional German cookie that reminds me of gingerbread. The spices are similar: cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and nutmeg. The difference is the addition of black pepper. The word pfeffernusse literally translates to “pepper nuts.” The pepper gives the spiced cookies a depth of flavor. I glaze mine with a powdered sugar glaze and a sprinkling of more pepper, but you can also top the cookies with powdered sugar or even eat the spicy little treats plain.

Ingredients

Cookies

• 1/2 cup of butter
• 3/4 cup of packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup of molasses
• 1 tablespoons of honey
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 3/4 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon of allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon of cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon of freshly ground pepper
• 2 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour

Glaze

• 6 tablespoons of milk
• 1 1/4 cups of powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground pepper plus extra

Directions

1. Cream together the butter and brown sugar.
2. Add the molasses, honey, egg, and vanilla to the butter mixture.
3. Combine thoroughly
4. Combine the baking soda, salt, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, ground pepper, and flour in a separate bowl.
5. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.
6. Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
7. Preheat the oven to 350°.
8. Roll the chilled dough into 1-inch strands.
9. Cut the dough into 1/2-inch pieces.
10. Roll the pieces into balls.
11. Place the dough balls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
12. Bake for 15 minutes.
13. Allow the baked cookies to cool thoroughly.
14. Combine the milk, powdered sugar, and freshly ground pepper to form a glaze.
15. Dip the baked pfeffernusse cookies in the glaze.
16. Sprinkled the glazed cookies with a pinch of freshly ground pepper.
17. Store the pfeffernusse in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Image Credits

Pfeffernusse Cookie Recipe © 2019 Heather Johnson
Wet Ingredients for Pfeffernusse Cookies © 2019 Heather Johnson
Spices for Pfeffernusse Cookies © 2019 Heather Johnson
Chilled Dough for Pfeffernusse Cookies © 2019 Heather Johnson
Cutting the Dough for Pfeffernusse Cookies © 2019 Heather Johnson
Dough Balls for Pfeffernusse Cookies © 2019 Heather Johnson
Baked Pfeffernusse Cookies © 2019 Heather Johnson
Glazing the Pfeffernusse Cookies © 2019 Heather Johnson
Glazed Pfeffernusse Cookies Drying © 2019 Heather Johnson
Glazed Pfeffernusse Cookies © 2019 Heather Johnson
Pfeffernusse Cookies © 2019 Heather Johnson