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.

Nutriscore Rating: 38/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:12 mins

Total Time:32 mins

Servings: 30

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)

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 2

In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, black pepper, ginger, and salt. Set aside.

Step 3

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.

Step 4

Add the molasses, egg, and vanilla extract to the butter mixture. Beat until fully incorporated.

Step 5

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a smooth dough forms. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Step 6

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.

Step 7

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.

Step 8

Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 9

Once completely cooled, roll each cookie in powdered sugar until generously coated. For extra coating, roll each cookie in powdered sugar a second time.

Step 10

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

Serving size	(885.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3495.2

Total Fat 104.2g	0%
Saturated Fat 62.8g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g
Cholesterol 444.3mg	0%
Sodium 1189.9mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 616.1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 9.6g	0%
Total Sugars 401.1g
Protein 35.6g	0%

Vitamin D 41IU	0%
Calcium 387.7mg	0%
Iron 19.6mg	0%
Potassium 2039.3mg	0%

*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.

Source of Calories

Fat: 26.5%

Protein: 4.0%

Carbs: 69.5%