Pfeffernüsse Cookies Recipe
Pfeffernüsse Cookies are traditional German spiced cookies with a rich molasses and honey base, flavored with warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and black pepper. These soft, chewy treats are coated in powdered sugar for a sweet finish, perfect for holiday baking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 27 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: German
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Syrup Mixture
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Others
- 1 egg
- Powdered sugar for coating
Instructions
- Prepare syrup mixture: In a small saucepan, combine the molasses, honey, butter, and brown sugar. Heat over medium heat until the butter is melted and the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and black pepper until evenly combined.
- Form dough: Add the slightly cooled molasses mixture and the egg to the dry ingredients. Mix thoroughly until a cohesive dough forms.
- Chill dough: Cover the dough with plastic wrap or a clean towel and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to firm up and develop flavor.
- Preheat oven and prepare baking sheets: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Shape cookies: Roll the chilled dough into 1-inch balls. Place the balls spaced apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 12 minutes or until the cookies are firm to the touch but still slightly soft in the center.
- Coat with powdered sugar: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool slightly but remain warm. Roll each cookie in powdered sugar to coat fully.
- Cool completely: Let the powdered sugar-coated cookies cool completely on a wire rack before serving or storing.
Notes
- Refrigerating the dough helps the flavors meld and makes the dough easier to handle.
- If you prefer, you can substitute brown sugar with coconut sugar for a slightly different flavor.
- Ensure the cookies are cooled enough before storing to prevent them from becoming soggy.
- For a stronger spice flavor, you may toast the whole spices lightly before grinding for the dry ingredients.
- These cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to one week and also freeze well.
Find it online: https://lovelycooks.com/pfeffernusse-cookies-recipe/
