Pfeffernüsse are delightful German Christmas cookies traditionally enjoyed during the holiday season. These bite-sized treats are characterized by their distinctive cracked surface, warm spice flavor, and a hint of pepper. Originating in the 16th century, pfeffernüsse have become an integral part of German holiday traditions and are often served alongside other festive treats like Lebkuchen and Stollen. This article presents a collection of three unique pfeffernüsse recipes, each offering a slightly different take on this classic cookie. From the traditional Pfeffernüsse recipe, featuring a blend of spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, to the Gluten-Free Pfeffernüsse variation, catering to those with dietary restrictions, and the Chocolate Pfeffernüsse recipe, adding a rich chocolate twist, these recipes provide a range of options to suit various preferences. Whether you're a seasoned baker or just starting your holiday baking journey, these recipes will guide you in creating delicious and authentic pfeffernüsse that will surely impress your family and friends.
Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!
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
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 50m
Yield 10 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- In a small saucepan, combine molasses, honey, butter and shortening. Cook and stir over medium heat until melted. Remove from heat; cool to room temperature. Stir in eggs and extract., Combine flour, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves, pepper and salt. Gradually add molasses mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight., Preheat oven to 325°. Roll dough into 1-in. balls. Place 1 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Remove cookies to wire racks. Roll warm cookies in confectioners' sugar. Cool completely. Store in an airtight container.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 42 calories, Fat 1g fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 4mg cholesterol, Sodium 31mg sodium, Carbohydrate 8g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 1g protein.
GLAZED PFEFFERNUESSE
Our version of the classic German cookie is nice to have on hand throughout the holiday season. They stay fresh-and become more intense in flavor-when stored in an airtight container for weeks. -Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 1h25m
Yield about 10 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 21
Steps:
- In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the molasses, water and extract. Combine the flour, baking soda, salt and spices; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in nuts. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. , Roll dough into 1-in. balls. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. , Meanwhile, in a shallow bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla. Place additional confectioners' sugar in another shallow bowl. Remove cookies to wire racks; cool 5 minutes. Dip tops of warm cookies in glaze and allow excess to drip off; dip in confectioners' sugar. Cool completely on wire racks. Store in an airtight container.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 74 calories, Fat 3g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 5mg cholesterol, Sodium 32mg sodium, Carbohydrate 10g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 1g protein.
GERMAN PFEFFERNUESSE
Looking for a distinctive German dessert? Then check out these delicious cookies made with molasses - a tasty treat.
Provided by Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Dessert
Time 3h
Yield 240
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- In large bowl, combine sugar, butter, buttermilk and molasses; beat well. Add flour and all remaining ingredients except powdered sugar; mix until well blended. Cover dough with plastic wrap; refrigerate at least 2 hours for easier handling.
- Heat oven to 350°F. On floured surface, shape dough into 4 long rolls, 15 inches long and 1 inch in diameter. With serrated knife, cut rolls into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Place 1/4 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
- Bake at 350°F. for 8 to 9 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheets; place on wire racks. Cool 5 minutes or until completely cooled. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 50, Carbohydrate 8 g, Cholesterol 4 mg, Fat 1/2, Fiber 0 g, Protein 1 g, SaturatedFat 1 g, ServingSize 4 Cookies, Sodium 30 mg, Sugar 4 g
PFEFFERNUESSE
These mild spice cookies, perfect for dunking, come from an old family recipe. The dough sits overnight to let the spices blend. The extraordinary flavors make these a holiday classic. —Betty Hawkshaw, Alexandria, Virginia
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 35m
Yield 8 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- In a bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. In a bowl, combine corn syrup, molasses and water; set aside. Combine the flour, aniseed, baking soda and spices; add to creamed mixture alternately with molasses mixture. Cover and refrigerate overnight. , Roll into 1-in. balls. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 400° for 11 minutes or until golden brown. Roll warm cookies in confectioners' sugar. Cool on wire racks.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 69 calories, Fat 2g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 9mg cholesterol, Sodium 32mg sodium, Carbohydrate 12g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 1g protein.
PFEFFERNUESSE IV
A traditional German holiday cookie.
Provided by Denise
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European German
Time 5h
Yield 60
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and allspice. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine molasses and butter. Heat, stirring occasionally, until the butter is melted. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. When the mixture has cooled, beat in the eggs. Blend the molasses mixture into the dry ingredients until evenly mixed. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 to 4 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. Roll dough into 1 inch balls and place them 2 inches apart onto the cookie sheets.
- Bake for 12 to 14 minutes in the preheated oven, or until firm. While cookies are still warm, toss them in a bag with confectioners' sugar and toss to coat. When cool, toss with sugar again.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 76.9 calories, Carbohydrate 14.2 g, Cholesterol 10.3 mg, Fat 1.8 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 1.1 g, SaturatedFat 1.1 g, Sodium 41.3 mg, Sugar 6.9 g
PFEFFERNUESSE COOKIE MIX
Spicy German cookie
Provided by Pat K.
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European German
Yield 30
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Stir together flour, sugar, baking soda, spices, and dash black pepper.
- In large saucepan, combine molasses and butter; heat and stir until butter melts. Cool to room temperature.
- Stir in eggs. Add dry ingredients to molasses mixture; mix well. Cover. Chill several hours or overnight.
- Shape into 1" balls. Place on greased cookie sheet.
- Bake at 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) for 12 to 14 minutes or until cookies are done. Remove. Cool. Roll in powdered sugar.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 135.1 calories, Carbohydrate 23.7 g, Cholesterol 20.5 mg, Fat 3.6 g, Fiber 0.5 g, Protein 2.2 g, SaturatedFat 2.1 g, Sodium 82.4 mg, Sugar 9.3 g
GERMAN PFEFFERNUESSE
I remember having friends at school bring these fun, marble-sized cookies in their lunchboxes. They're of German origin and taste very good.-N.R. Urie, Pueblo, California
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 25m
Yield 5-1/2 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, cream, corn syrup, honey and extracts. Combine the dry ingredients; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate overnight., Roll dough into 1-in. balls. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 400° for 10-11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire racks.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 145 calories, Fat 4g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 19mg cholesterol, Sodium 93mg sodium, Carbohydrate 25g carbohydrate (12g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 2g protein.
PFEFFERNUESSE (PEPPERY GINGERBREAD)
These little spicy gingerbreads bring out the wonderful flavours of pepper, ginger, and anise. Soft inside and crunchy outside with a touch of lemon glaze. Pfeffernüsse contain much freshly ground pepper, but don't reduce the amount, because the pepperiness makes the difference. In the past pepper was one of the most expensive spices and to use much pepper was a sign of wealth. Nowadays pepper is often used in advent and Christmas bakery throughout Europe. Pfeffernüsse are so easy to make, yet so tasty, and are a typical German christmas cookie.
Provided by Thorsten
Categories Dessert
Time 1h15m
Yield 48 cookies
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Mix flour and baking soda and set aside.
- Bring butter, dark molasses, sugar, and spices in a pot to a boil and remove from heat.
- Add flour at once and stir in quickly.
- Let dough cool down. Then wrap into cling film and put into the fridge. Leave it there overnight.
- On the next day: The dough should be very firm. Halve it with a knife. Set one half aside for the moment. Divide the halved dough into 8 pieces. Each of the 8 pieces divide into 3 little pieces (they should have almost the size of nuts).
- First knead the little pieces of dough, so that they get a little waxier. Then roll them between your hands to form a little ball. Place them on a plate and put in the fridge. Do the same with the second half of the dough.
- Let the dough balls rest in the fridge for one hour.
- Meanwhile preheat oven (360 F, 180 C). Line out two baking trays with baking paper. Take the dough balls out of the fridge and put them on the baking tray.
- Put baking tray into the lower third of the oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes. Cookies will flatten a bit and should be golden. They are still soft.
- Put them on a cooling rack and let the them cool completely.
- While the first batch is baking do the same as described above with the second half of dough.
- Mix powdered sugar with as little lime juice as possible to form a glaze. The glaze should be pasty, so use as much lime juice you need to get this consistency. Decorate the Pfeffernüsse with the glaze. I use an icing bag with a very small opening to decorate the Pfeffernüsse with the pasty glaze.
- Store the Pfeffernüsse between layers of parchment paper in an airtight container. You can store them in a dry and not too warm place for about 4 weeks.
- NOTE: I use anise seeds and ground them freshly. The anise flavour will be more intense.
- Cooking time does not include time for cooling (overnight and additional 1 hour). Passive work (baking) time is for 1 baking tray.
Tips:
- Use fresh, high-quality ingredients. This will make a big difference in the flavor of your pfeffernüsse.
- Don't overmix the dough. Overmixing will make the cookies tough.
- Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before rolling it out. This will make it easier to handle and will help the cookies keep their shape.
- Use a cookie press to shape the cookies. This is the easiest way to get consistent results.
- Bake the cookies until they are just set. Overbaking will make them dry and crumbly.
- Let the cookies cool completely before storing them. This will help them keep their shape and flavor.
Conclusion:
Pfeffernüsse are a delicious and festive holiday cookie that is easy to make at home. With a few simple tips, you can make perfect pfeffernüsse that your family and friends will love. So what are you waiting for? Get baking!
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