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Smelling Salts Journal

November 22, 2017

Pfeffernüsse


12 Days of Holiday Baking continues with my recipe for Pfeffernüsse

These cookies are a holiday favourite in our house.  There’s nothing better than a spicy, powdered-sugar-coated cookie to keep you warm on a winter’s day.

[P.S. They make good valentines, too!]
Let’s get to work, then!

Print Recipe

Pfeffernüsse

Servings: 4 Dozen Cookies

Ingredients

  • 3 c all-purpose flour and 3/4 c chopped pecans walnuts or sliced almonds 
  • or 3 c all purpose flour and 3/4 c nut flour
  • or 3 3/4 c all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp fresh-ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp ground cardamom
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
  • OPTIONAL: 1/2 tsp fresh ground anise or 1 tsp anise extract
  • 1/2 tsp allspice
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 c unsalted butter room temperature
  • 1 c brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 c molasses
  • 1/4 c honey
  • OPTIONAL: 1-2 tbs brandy or cognac

for the coating

  • 1 c icing sugar
  • 2 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 350.
  • If using chopped nuts, toast nuts for 5-10 minutes until just light brown.
  • If using chopped nuts, pulverize the nuts into flour using a food processor or coffee/spice grinder.
  • Place the flour, nut flour, spices, baking soda, and baking powder in a bowl and whisk to combine.
  • Set aside.
  • In a mixer or by hand, cream butter and brown sugar.
  • Add eggs to combine.
  • Add molasses, honey, [optional] brandy/cognac, [optional] anise extract.
  • Slowly incorporate all of the flour until a slightly sticky dough forms.
  • Refrigerate for 1-2 hours.
  • Mix icing sugar and cinnamon in small bowl and set aside.
  • Form dough into 3/4-inch to 1-inch balls.
  • Place on parchment lined cookie sheets.
  • Bake for 12 minutes, rotating sheets 180 degrees at the 6 minute mark.
  • Immediately place cookies on their parchment onto wire racks.
  • While cookies are still warm, place a few at a time in the bowl of spiced icing sugar and toss to coat.
  • Return coated cookies to their parchment sheets on wire racks.
  • Cool completely.

Now, don’t forget to check out my 2017 Advent Calendar on December 1st!

Filed Under: 12 Days of Holiday Baking, All Recipes, Christmas, Cookies and Bars, Desserts, Holiday, Valentine's Tagged With: cookies, pfeffernusse recipe

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About Me

Welcome to Smelling Salts! I'm Roseanne, and this is where I record my best recipes, take notes on arts, culture, and style, and write essays about what keeps me going.

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