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Pfeffernüsse

Traditional German holiday cookies spiced with white pepper, cinnamon, and cardamom. Soft, chewy, and finished with a delicate sugar coating.

37 minMediumServes 3075 cal/serving

GermanDessertOvenVegetarianLow CarbHalal-friendlyNut-FreeSoy-FreeAlcohol-FreePork-FreeLow-Sodium

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Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
  • 1/4 tsp ground white pepper
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted

Instructions

  1. 1

    In a saucepan over medium heat, melt 1/4 cup softened unsalted butter, 1/4 cup honey, and 1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar together until smooth, then allow to cool slightly.

  2. 2

    Whisk in the 1 beaten egg.

  3. 3

    In a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ground cloves, 1/2 tsp ground cardamom, 1/4 tsp ground white pepper, and 1/2 tsp baking powder.

  4. 4

    Stir the warm honey mixture into the flour mixture until a cohesive dough forms, then cover and chill for 1 hour.

  5. 5

    Preheat oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  6. 6

    Roll dough into one-inch balls and arrange on the baking sheet.

  7. 7

    Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until firm to the touch.

  8. 8

    Toss warm cookies in 1 cup sifted powdered sugar until fully coated, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

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Questions

What is Pfeffernüsse?

Traditional German holiday cookies spiced with white pepper, cinnamon, and cardamom. Soft, chewy, and finished with a delicate sugar coating. This reference files it under German dessert: made in the oven, rated medium and about 37 minutes start to finish.

What temperature do I cook Pfeffernüsse at?

For Pfeffernüsse, the oven is set to 350 F (about 175 C) in step 5. The longest stretch at that heat is 12 minutes, in step 7.

Can I skip chilling the dough for Pfeffernüsse?

Step 4 reads: "Stir the warm honey mixture into the flour mixture until a cohesive dough forms, then cover and chill for 1 hour." Not without a cost. The rest in step 4 firms the fat and relaxes the gluten, so the dough holds its shape and bakes up tender instead of spreading or shrinking.

What can I use instead of powdered sugar in Pfeffernüsse?

The entry for Pfeffernüsse calls for 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted. In its place: Blend granulated sugar with a teaspoon of cornstarch per cup until fine.

Can I make Pfeffernüsse gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in Pfeffernüsse is 2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted. Swap the flour for a 1-to-1 gluten-free baking blend (where it only thickens a sauce, half as much cornstarch also works). Everything else proceeds as written.

Is Pfeffernüsse vegan?

No, though it is vegetarian. What keeps it from vegan is 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened, 1/4 cup honey and 1 egg, beaten. For fully plant-based entries, see the vegan dessert collection.

Which part of Pfeffernüsse can be done ahead?

Everything up to step 4. Step 4 is a built-in pause of 1 hour: "Stir the warm honey mixture into the flour mixture until a cohesive dough forms, then cover and chill for 1 hour." Do everything up to that point ahead of time and pick up at step 5 when you are ready to finish.

Serve it with

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