Pfeffernüsse Spiced Cookies without White Pepper
These glazed German spiced cookies called Pfeffernüsse will win your heart and become your favorite Christmas cookie! They're packed with warm spices and sweetened with honey.
Equipment
Ingredients
Cookies
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup honey
- 2½ cups all purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 large egg
Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 Tablespoons hot water
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- In a small saucepan on medium-low heat, melt the butter with the brown sugar, and honey. Stir frequently until the sugar is dissolved. Set aside to cool.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, spices, and baking powder.
- Add the flour mixture and the egg into the melted butter mixture in the saucepan. Stir until it’s it forms a thick, sticky dough and there aren't any clumps of dry flour.
- Roll the dough into 1-inch balls. Arrange on the prepared baking sheet, spaced about one inch apart from each other.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, just until the cookies are dry on top and starting to turn golden on the bottom. Watch them closely, because they bake quickly, and the bottoms can burn if you leave them in for just a couple minutes too long.
- While the cookies bake, prepare the glaze. In a bowl, mix the powdered sugar and hot water until it forms a thick paste. Brush the warm cookies with the glaze, which will thicken as it cools.
- You can eat the cookies right away, but for the best flavor, allow them to cool completely then store in an airtight container for 2 to 3 days, for the flavor to deepen, then enjoy!
Notes
- Chilled Dough: If your dough still feels warm when you're rolling it into ball, place the formed dough balls in the fridge for 20 minutes before baking. This will prevent them from spreading too much in the oven.
- Smooth Dough: The smoother your cookie dough balls are, the smoother they'll be when they bake. Subsequently, the smoother finish you'll be able to get with your glaze.
- Alternate Topping: If you don't want to make a glaze, Pfeffernüsse are also commonly dusted with a generous coating of powdered sugar.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 cookieCalories: 240kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 2gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 72mgPotassium: 45mgFiber: 1gSugar: 29gVitamin A: 193IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 1mg
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