Pfeffernuesse are traditional German spice cookies that are popular during the Christmas season. These cookies are small and packed with warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, and cloves, offering a rich and flavorful treat. The dough is rolled into small balls, baked until golden brown, and then coated with powdered sugar, adding a delightful touch of sweetness. This recipe provides step-by-step instructions on how to create these delicious Pfeffernuesse cookies from scratch.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup ground almonds
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Powdered sugar, for coating
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, ground almonds, granulated sugar, brown sugar, honey, molasses, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, baking soda, black pepper, nutmeg, cardamom, and salt. Mix well.
- Add the melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract to the bowl. Stir until all the ingredients are combined and a dough forms.
- Using your hands, shape the dough into small balls, approximately 1 inch in diameter. Place the balls onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until they are lightly golden brown.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Once the cookies have cooled, roll them in powdered sugar until they are fully coated. Gently tap off any excess powdered sugar.
- Serve and enjoy these delicious Pfeffernuesse cookies with a hot cup of tea or coffee!
