She Strengthens

Discover the Magic of Pfeffernüsse: A Classic German Cookie

Pfeffernüsse, a traditional German cookie, is a delightful addition to any Christmas celebration. These sweet treats are perfect for dunking in your favorite hot beverage or enjoying on their own.

Make-Ahead Magic

One of the best things about Pfeffernüsse is that they can be baked ahead of time and frozen for up to 2 months. Simply thaw them at room temperature and roll them in spiced sugar before serving.

The Perfect Blend of Spices

Our Pfeffernüsse recipe features a unique blend of spices, including cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice. These warm flavors combine to create a truly unforgettable taste experience.

Spiced Sugar: The Finishing Touch

To make our spiced sugar, simply sift together powdered sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice in a large bowl. This sweet and spicy mixture is the perfect finishing touch for our Pfeffernüsse cookies.

The Cookie Dough

To make the cookie dough, sift together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, ginger, nutmeg, salt, allspice, and pepper in a large bowl. Then, process sliced almonds in a food processor until finely ground and add them to the flour mixture.

Adding the Wet Ingredients

In a stand mixer, beat together unsalted butter, lemon zest, and orange zest until fluffy and combined. Add brown sugar, egg, honey, and candied lemon or orange peel, beating until just incorporated.

Chilling and Baking

Cover the dough and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Heat the oven to 350°F and arrange 2 racks to divide the oven into thirds. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and roll the chilled dough into 24 balls. Space them 1 1/2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets and bake for 8 minutes. Rotate the sheets and continue baking for an additional 5-6 minutes.

Sugarcoating and Storage

Drop the warm cookies into the spiced sugar, coating them all over. Shake off excess sugar and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store the cookies in an airtight container, layered between pieces of waxed paper, for up to 3 weeks.

Yield and Difficulty

This recipe yields approximately 8 dozen (1-1/2-inch) cookies and is considered easy to make. The total time required is 1 hour 15 minutes, plus 1 hour chilling time. The active time is approximately 40 minutes.