Traditional German Pfeffernüsse
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook Time
15 minutes
Total Time
35 minutes (plus cooling time)
Servings
36 cookies
Yield
36 cookies
Calories
Approximately 80 calories per cookie
Traditional German Pfeffernüsse are bite-sized spice cookies that encapsulate the warmth and joy of the holiday season.
These delightful treats are known for their unique blend of spices, including cinnamon, cloves, and anise, which are combined with a hint of black pepper to give them their distinctive name and flavor.
Coated in a delicate layer of powdered sugar, Pfeffernüsse are not only a pleasure to eat but also a festive sight to behold.
Whether served with a cup of hot cocoa, coffee, or mulled wine, these cookies are a quintessential part of German Christmas traditions and are perfect for sharing with loved ones.
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon of ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon of ground anise
- 1/2 cup of unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3/4 cup of brown sugar, firmly packed
- 1/4 cup of molasses
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- Powdered sugar, for coating
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, and anise. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the butter, brown sugar, and molasses until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Cover the dough and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll the dough into small balls, about 1 inch in diameter, and place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 13-15 minutes, or until the cookies are set but still soft.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once cooled, toss the cookies in powdered sugar to coat them thoroughly.
Tips & Tricks
- For a more intense flavor, let the dough rest in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before baking.
- The cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks, making them perfect for holiday gifting.
- For an extra layer of flavor and decoration, consider dipping the powdered sugar-coated cookies in melted dark chocolate and allowing them to set before serving.
- If you prefer a less sweet cookie, you can reduce the amount of powdered sugar used for coating.
Mise en Place
Ingredients
Utensils
- All-purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Ground black pepper
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground cloves
- Ground allspice
- Ground nutmeg
- Ground anise
- Unsalted butter
- Brown sugar
- Molasses
- Egg
- Vanilla extract
- Powdered sugar
- Medium bowl
- Large bowl
- Electric mixer
- Baking sheets
- Parchment paper
- Wire rack
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