Description
Pfeffernusse are traditional German spice cookies, perfect for the holidays. They feature a unique blend of spices and a sweet glaze.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- Zest of half a lemon
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground star anise
- 1/4 teaspoon ground mace
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Glaze: 2 cups powdered sugar
- Glaze: 3 to 5 tablespoons water
Instructions
- In a small pot, cook the honey and the sugar over medium-low heat until the sugar has dissolved. Do not boil. Remove from heat and stir occasionally to cool to below 140°F.
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and lemon zest.
- Once the honey-sugar mixture has cooled, mix in the egg and all spices. Stir quickly to combine.
- Pour the honey mixture into the flour mixture and mix until a ball of dough forms.
- Use a medium cookie scoop to form small balls of about 1 1/2 inches each. Place on the baking sheet.
- Bake for 13 to 15 minutes until the cookies lightly brown. Let them cool completely on the pan.
- Make the glaze by combining the powdered sugar and 3 tablespoons of water in a medium bowl. Add more water if needed until you have a thick paste.
- Dip the pfeffernusse cookies into the sugar glaze or spread the glaze with a brush. Let them dry completely on a cooling rack.
Notes
- White pepper is the traditional ingredient, but black pepper can be substituted.
- Ensure the honey-sugar mixture cools sufficiently before adding the egg to prevent curdling. Cool cookies completely on the pan.
- If ground anise and mace are unavailable, they can be omitted. Anise extract can be used as a substitute. Powdered sugar can be used instead of the glaze.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 80
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 20mg
- Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 10mg