Old World Pfeffernusse Cookies
4.5k
Traditionally baked during 'Sinterklaas', a feast on 5 December (6 December in Belgium and Germany) on which little children receive gifts from the holy St. Nicholas, the partial inspiration for Santa Claus. In Germany, Pfeffernüsse are traditionally made during the Christmas season.
Ingredients
| ½ | cup |
butter
or margarine, softened |
|
| ¾ | cup |
brown sugar
packed |
* |
| ½ | cup |
molasses
|
|
| 1 | large |
eggs
|
|
| 1 | tablespoon |
liqueur
licorice flavor, optional |
|
| 3 ¼ | cups |
all-purpose flour
|
|
| 1 | teaspoon |
baking soda
|
|
| 1 | teaspoon |
cinnamon
ground |
|
| ½ | teaspoon |
cloves
ground |
|
| ¼ | teaspoon |
nutmeg
ground |
* |
| 1 | dash |
black pepper
|
* |
|
powdered sugar
|
* |
Directions
Preheat oven to 350℉ (180℃). Grease cookie sheets.
Beat butter and brown sugar in large bowl until creamy.
Beat in molasses, egg and liqueur, if desired, until light and fluffy.
Mix in flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and pepper.
Shape level Tablespoon of dough into balls.
Place 2 inches apart onto prepared cookie sheets.
Bake 12 to 14 minutes until set.
Cool 2 minutes on cookie sheets.
Remove to wire racks; sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Cool completely. Store in airtight containers.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 13g (0.5 oz)Amount per Serving
Calories 4833% of calories from fat
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 2g
3%
Saturated Fat 1g
5%
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol 7mg
2%
Sodium 23mg
1%
Total Carbohydrate
2g
2%
Dietary Fiber 0g
1%
Sugars g
Protein
2g
Vitamin A 1%
•
Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 1%
•
Iron 3%
* based on a 2,000 calorie diet
How is this calculated?
real pferneuise cookies must have muscat raisins.
almost 8 years agoUnited States
This recipe is popular among Mennonite and Amish people in their cookbooks, I would imagine since they are from Swiss, German, Dutch descent. Great cookies.
almost 6 years agoScott Aheadjoy
Actually this recipe is New America recipe for Peppernut cookies. The original Peppernut cookie wasn't soft or chewy. I learned my mother recipe which is similar to this recipe. However, my mother recipe was handed down from the 1800s version. She cooked her ingredients on top of the stove, then mixed the dry ingredients, rolled them out, baked them and they came out rock hard. Why rock hard? Because lumberjacks, farmers and hunters could put them in their pockets, suck on them while they worked or put them in their coffe to soften them up. If you put soft peppernuts in your pocket they would crumble.
9 months agoBeverly - United States
My dear friend used to make these little cookies every year around Christmas I haven't thought of them in a long, long time. She maked tons of them. I may have to try my hand at making them.
8 months agoYummy
8 months ago