Pfeffernüße

Pfeffernüße

Ingredients:
2 Eggs
1/4 cup Butter
1/4 tsp Salt
1/2 cup Honey
1/4 cup Molasses, Dark
3/4 cup Brown Sugar
3 cups All purpose Flour
2 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp Anise Extract
1/4 tsp grated Lemon zest
1/4 tsp ground Cloves
1/4 tsp ground Allspice
1/4 tsp ground Cardamom
1/4 tsp Black Pepper
1/4 tsp ground Nutmeg
Confectioner’s Sugar (for dusting)

Directions:

• In a large bowl, combine Flour, Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Salt, and Spices. Sift mixture.
• In a large bowl, combine Butter and Sugar. Mix until well combined. Add Molasses.
• In a small bowl, beat the egg and then combine with the Wet Ingredients.
• Slowly add Dry Ingredients and Lemon Zest until well combined. Dough should start to pull away from the bowl. If too wet, add more flour, but very slowly and cautiously.
• Place on a piece of plastic wrap, seal and place in Refrigerator and cool for for 2-3 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Roll dough into 1″ balls. Place parchment on cookie sheet, and place balls 2 inches apart.
• Bake for 12 to 14 minutes. Cracking is normal.
• Cool cookies on wire racks.
• Roll in Confectioner’s Sugar, and let cool completely.

NOTE: Some people may add 1/2 tsp Cocoa powder, but that is not authentic. Some may also add nuts like Almonds to this, but the kind my family makes never had nuts in them.  This has always been a Holiday treat at my house, people saying they “taste like Christmas”.