• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The DIY Mommy
  • Home Decor
  • DIY Crafts
  • Organize
  • Printables
  • Recipes
  • Life
  • Shop My Home
  • Lake House
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home Decor
  • DIY Crafts
  • Clean & Organize
  • Recipes
  • Free Printables
  • Life
  • Our Little Lake House
  • Shop Our Home
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » DIY Recipes » Baking

    Tante Betty's Pfeffernusse | German Iced Spice Christmas Cookies

    Published: Dec 4, 2018 · Modified: Nov 2, 2021 by Christina Dennis · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 16 Comments

    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.

    Tante Betty's Pfeffernusse | German Iced Spice Christmas Cookies
     
    Recipe Type: Cookies
    Cuisine: German
    Author: Christina Dennis
    Prep time: 15 mins
    Cook time: 15 mins
    Total time: 30 mins
    Serves: 6 dozen
    These spicy round cookies are enveloped in icing and a delicious treat at Christmas time!
    Ingredients
    • First Mixture
    • 1 ½ c brown sugar
    • ½ c molasses
    • ½ c water
    • 2 teaspoon cinnamon
    • 2 teaspoon cloves
    • 3 teaspoon star anise
    • ½ teaspoon ginger
    • ½ teaspoon almond extract
    • ½ ts anise extract
    • Second Mixture
    • ½ c butter
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda (dissolved in water)
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 2 beaten eggs
    • 4-5 cups flour to make a soft dough (if the batter is too thick, it won't hold together)
    • Icing
    • 1 c icing sugar
    • 2 tablespoon milk
    • 1 teaspoon almond extract
    Instructions
    1. Bring the first mixture to a boil. Cool slightly and add second mixture.
    2. Roll in long narrow strips. Cut to desired thickness, and shape into balls. (My pieces are about 1 x 1 inch)
    3. Bake at 350 degrees F until slightly brown (10-15 minutes). Be careful, they burn easily at the bottom, unless you use airbake pans.
    4. Ice with a mixture of icing sugar, milk, and almond extract (I use 1 cup of icing sugar, 2 tablespoon of milk, and 1 teaspoon of almond extract). If you ice both top and bottom, they don't dry out as quickly.
     
    3.5.3217

    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!

    Pin Me:

    More of My Christmas Ideas

    Gingerbread flavored coffee syrup recipe that's so easy to make!

    MAKE GINGERBREAD FLAVORED COFFEE SYRUP

    This flavourful gingerbread coffee syrup is the perfect, festive addition to your morning latte. It also makes a great gift for a coffee lover! The syrup is so simple to make and tastes delicious.

    How to Create an Inexpensive Hot Chocolate Station for Christmas

    CREATE AN INEXPENSIVE HOT CHOCOLATE STATION FOR CHRISTMAS

    A fun treat to have in your home over the Holiday season is a special area where everyone can make their own hot drink - a hot chocolate station! You can keep your station budget-friendly by using recycled jars, dollar store products, and things you already have on hand. 

    Creative ways to wrap Christmas baking - love these fun packaging ideas!

    HOW TO WRAP YOUR CHRISTMAS BAKING

    I think homemade cookies and breads are such an easy and heartfelt gift to give to neighbors and friends. Here are a few fun ways to package your Christmas baking gifts this year. 

    More Delicious Christmas Cookie Recipes:

    12 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

    More Inspiration

    • Peppermint Pretzel Chocolate Bark
    • My Favourite German Christmas Recipes
    • How to make Easy Very Berry Pie
    • 10 Romantic DIY Valentine Gifts On A Budget

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. jen

      December 04, 2018 at 7:49 am

      Yum! That icing looks amazing.

      Reply
    2. Jen

      December 04, 2018 at 9:08 am

      Looks delicious Christina!!

      Reply
    3. Tan

      December 04, 2018 at 11:04 am

      I've had these from packages but I bet they're SO much better fresh! I have to try these.

      Reply
      • Lindsay - The DIY Mommy

        December 08, 2018 at 9:17 pm

        You really should 🙂

        Reply
    4. Jo-Anna

      December 04, 2018 at 3:52 pm

      Oh my those look delicious Christina! I LOVE recipes that are passed down through families...they're always the best.

      Reply
    5. Kim

      December 04, 2018 at 6:21 pm

      These look delicious and oh so pretty!

      Reply
    6. Lisa Favre

      December 05, 2018 at 10:16 am

      The icing on these cookies look sooo delicious!

      Reply
      • Lindsay - The DIY Mommy

        December 08, 2018 at 9:17 pm

        Thanks, Lisa. It is pretty good 👍🏻

        Reply
    7. Liz

      November 18, 2019 at 1:02 pm

      These were my favorite cookies when I visited Germany before Christmas. Thank you for bringing them to FF.

      Reply
    8. Rosemary

      December 01, 2019 at 3:52 am

      I've seen these cookies before but have never made them. I will definitely be giving them a go - they look like Christmas on a plate!

      Reply
    9. Amy

      December 05, 2019 at 10:45 am

      We love ginger at our house and these cookies look so fun. I have chose this post to be featured at Best of the Weekend. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
    10. Calypso in the Country

      December 06, 2019 at 5:59 am

      Great recipe and I love the way you displayed them! Thanks for joining us at Best of the Weekend. You were one of my features this week! I will also be pinning and sharing on Instagram stories this weekend. Thanks for joining us and have a great weekend!
      Shelley

      Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. Gingerbread Cookies - Life is a Party says:
      September 29, 2019 at 4:19 pm

      […] German Iced Spice Christmas Cookies by Christina of The DIY Mommy […]

      Reply
    2. Holly Crinkle Cookies: The Cutest Cookies You'll Make This Season says:
      March 5, 2021 at 12:51 pm

      […] German Iced Spice Christmas Cookies by Christina of The DIY Mommy […]

      Reply
    3. Holly Crinkle Cookies: The Cutest Cookies You'll Make This Season - Easy Recipe Depot says:
      March 10, 2021 at 6:43 pm

      […] German Iced Spice Christmas Cookies by Christina of The DIY Mommy […]

      Reply
    4. Festive Cranberry Orange Shortbread Cookies with Sparkling Orange Glaze says:
      November 11, 2021 at 2:24 pm

      […] German Iced Spice Christmas Cookies by Christina of The DIY Mommy […]

      Reply

    What do you think? Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome!

    Christina Dennis, The DIY Mommy

    I'm Christina and I'm sharing budget-friendly DIY & decor ideas to create a cozy home and life you love!

    Read more about me

    Latest Posts

    • Introducing my NEW Canva Mood Board Templates & Mini Course!
    • We built a small bathroom wet room from scratch!
    • Creative And Unique DIY Wall Art Ideas

    What's my home decor style?

    Discover the home decor style that best fits your personality and lifestyle. This two-minute quiz is going to give you the direction you need to start the big, bold room makeovers that you've always wanted to try!

    Find out now!

    Archives

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About The DIY Mommy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure Policy
    • Terms of Service

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2009 - 2023 The DIY Mommy. "The DIY Mommy" is a registered trademark.