Learn how to make my Tante (Aunt) Betty’s Pfeffernusse – a spicy, German cookie smothered in icing. They’re the perfect treat for the holidays!
I have a recipe book featuring our extended family’s favourite recipes that I made about 12 years ago. In it are some delicious & treasured creations by many of my German aunts and great aunts. I’ve actually featured a lot of these recipes on my blog before in my German baking series!
Today’s recipe is a delicious German Christmas cookie called Pfeffernusse (or Peppernuts, in English). If you like the taste of gingerbread, you’ll love these! They’re spicy, soft and pillowy, and they’re encased in an icing glaze to keep them moist and give them even more sweetness and texture.
This recipe is part of a Christmas recipe hop hosted by Jo-Anna from A Pretty Life, so after you’ve had a look at my recipe make sure to hop down to the bottom of this post to get even more holiday baking and cooking ideas!
Besides the fact that they’re iced all the way around, I think one of the most interesting things about baking these cookies is that you boil all of the wet ingredients on the stove before putting in the dry ingredients. It seems to give these cookies a unique texture and chewiness. Plus, it just feels good to work with warm dough on a cold winter’s day!
Here’s the recipe for my Tante Betty’s Pfeffernusse
I’ve copied it exactly as she had written it for my family recipe book, with some of my own notes in parenthesis.
- 1½ c brown sugar
- ½ c molasses
- ½ c water
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tsp cloves
- 3 tsp star anise
- ½ tsp ginger
- ½ tsp almond extract
- ½ ts anise extract
- ½ c butter
- 1 tsp baking soda (dissolved in water)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 beaten eggs
- 4-5 cups flour to make a soft dough (if batter is too thick, it won't hold together)
- 1 c icing sugar
- 2 tbsp milk
- 1 tsp almond extract
- Bring first mixture to a boil. Cool slightly and add second mixture.
- Roll in long narrow strips. Cut to desired thickness, and shape into balls. (My pieces are about 1 x 1 inch)
- Bake at 350 degrees F until slightly brown (10-15 minutes). Be careful, they burn easily at the bottom, unless you use airbake pans.
- Ice with a mixture of icing sugar, milk and almond extract (I use 1 cup of icing sugar, 2 tbsp of milk and 1 tsp of almond extract). If you ice both top and bottom, they don't dry out as quickly.
We’ve loved baking this recipe this Christmas season so far, and Little B likes to give her Pfeffernusse her own spin with sprinkles:
These also freeze well, so make this huge batch and put a couple dozen in the freezer for Christmas Eve!
More Delicious Christmas Cookie Recipes:
For more Christmas cookie recipes, make sure you check out the delicious recipes below!
Swiss Mountain Shortbread by Kim of Kim Power Style
German Iced Spice Christmas Cookies by Christina of The DIY Mommy
Slice and Bake Shortbread Cookies by Jo-Anna of A Pretty Life in the Suburbs
Cathedral Window Cookies by Rita of Harbour Breeze Home
Chocolate Peppermint Biscotti by Kendra of Joy In Our Home
Cranberry Orange Shortbread by Jen of Kitchen Counter Chronicles
Holiday Crinkle Cookies by Lisa of Fabulous Habits
Maple Shortbread Snowflakes by Laura of one house 2 barns
Ritz Cracker Bark (aka Crookies) by Courtenay of Creek Line House
Peppermint Hot Cocoa Cookies by Jennifer of Happily Organized Chaos
Earl Grey Snowball Cookies by Tan of Squirrelly Minds
Gingerbread Cookies by Dannyelle of Life is a Party
jen says
December 4, 2018 at 7:49 amYum! That icing looks amazing.
Jen says
December 4, 2018 at 9:08 amLooks delicious Christina!!
Tan says
December 4, 2018 at 11:04 amI’ve had these from packages but I bet they’re SO much better fresh! I have to try these.
Lindsay - The DIY Mommy says
December 8, 2018 at 9:17 pmYou really should 🙂
Jo-Anna says
December 4, 2018 at 3:52 pmOh my those look delicious Christina! I LOVE recipes that are passed down through families…they’re always the best.
Kim says
December 4, 2018 at 6:21 pmThese look delicious and oh so pretty!
Kim recently posted..Swiss Mountain Shortbread Christmas Cookies
Lisa Favre says
December 5, 2018 at 10:16 amThe icing on these cookies look sooo delicious!
Lindsay - The DIY Mommy says
December 8, 2018 at 9:17 pmThanks, Lisa. It is pretty good 👍🏻