Description
Pfeffernusse Spice Cookies are a classic holiday treat known for their perfect balance of warm spices like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and black pepper. These small cookies offer a delightful crunchy yet chewy texture and a rich, festive flavor that improves with age. Ideal for sharing during the holidays, they are traditionally coated in powdered sugar for a snowy finish and pair beautifully with holiday beverages.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend for a gluten-free option)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground cloves
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
Wet Ingredients
- 2 large eggs (or 2 flax eggs for vegan adaptation)
- ½ cup molasses (can substitute with dark corn syrup or honey)
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened, or oil (coconut oil or vegan butter for vegan)
Sweeteners
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated white sugar
Optional for Coating
- Powdered sugar (for rolling cookies after baking)
Optional Variations
- Pinch of ground cardamom or star anise for extra spice zing
- Fresh orange zest for a citrus note
- Dark chocolate for dipping half of each cookie
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients: Gather and measure all ingredients carefully. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and black pepper to ensure even distribution of spices throughout the dough.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, beat the eggs, molasses, brown sugar, white sugar, and softened butter (or oil) together until the mixture is smooth and creamy, forming a luscious base for the dough.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk the sifted flour and spice mixture again to verify even blending and prevent clumping.
- Form the Dough: Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture with gentle motions until a firm, slightly sticky dough forms. Take care not to overmix, as this can affect the desired texture.
- Chill the Dough: Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. Chilling improves dough handling and enriches the flavors.
- Shape Cookies: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll chilled dough into small balls about 1 inch in diameter. Place them evenly spaced on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake: Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes until they are slightly puffed and golden brown around the edges, making sure to remove them before the centers harden to retain chewiness.
- Cool and Coat: Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, optionally roll them in powdered sugar for a festive, snowy appearance.
Notes
- Use freshly ground spices for the most vibrant and aromatic flavors.
- Chilling the dough is essential to improve texture and ease of handling.
- Use a cookie scoop to shape uniform cookies for consistent baking.
- Avoid overbaking to keep the cookies chewy in the center and crunchy on the edges.
- Store cookies in an airtight container with parchment paper layers to prevent sticking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: German
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 65mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: Pfeffernusse, spice cookies, holiday cookies, Christmas cookies, spiced treats, German cookies, molasses cookies, chewy cookies
