Pfeffernusse
Delight in the warm, spiced flavors of traditional German pfeffernüsse, a holiday cookie that's as festive as it is flavorful. These soft, bite-sized treats feature a medley of aromatic spices, including cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, and a hint of black pepper, blended into a rich molasses and brown sugar dough. Baked to perfection, each cookie is coated in powdered sugar for a snowy, sweet finish that contrasts beautifully with their complex, spiced interior. With a perfectly soft-yet-chewy texture, these cookies are ideal for sharing during Christmas gatherings or enjoying with a mug of tea or coffee. Best of all, the flavors deepen over time, making them even more irresistible after a day or two. If you're searching for a unique holiday recipe steeped in tradition, pfeffernüsse is a must-try addition to your festive baking repertoire.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2.25 cups All-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking powder
- 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
- 0.5 teaspoon Ground cloves
- 0.5 teaspoon Ground nutmeg
- 0.25 teaspoon Ground black pepper
- 0.5 teaspoon Ground ginger
- 0.25 teaspoon Salt
- 0.75 cup Granulated sugar
- 0.25 cup Brown sugar, packed
- 0.5 cup Unsalted butter, softened
- 0.33 cup Molasses
- 1 Large egg
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 1 cup Powdered sugar (for coating)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, black pepper, ginger, and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and softened butter until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
Add the molasses, egg, and vanilla extract to the butter mixture. Beat until fully incorporated.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a smooth dough forms. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Scoop out small portions of dough (about 1 tablespoon each) and roll them into balls. Place the dough balls onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the cookies are just set and slightly cracked on top. They should still be soft when removed from the oven.
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Once completely cooled, roll each cookie in powdered sugar until generously coated. For extra coating, roll each cookie in powdered sugar a second time.
Store Pfeffernüsse in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. The flavor of the spices intensifies as the cookies sit, so they taste even better after a day or two!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
118 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 3.4 g | 4% | |
| Saturated Fat | 2.1 g | 10% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 15 mg | 5% | |
| Sodium | 39 mg | 2% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 20.8 g | 8% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.3 g | 1% | |
| Total Sugars | 13.4 g | ||
| Protein | 1.2 g | 2% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.1 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 12 mg | 1% | |
| Iron | 0.6 mg | 3% | |
| Potassium | 66 mg | 1% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
