A traditional German spice cookie rolled in powdered sugar.
Ingredients
1-2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon lemon peel; grated
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/3 cup butter; softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup walnuts; finely chopped
1 teaspoon anise seed
confectioner’s sugar in a shallow bowl (for rolling warm cookies)
Directions
- Pre-heat oven to 350F and lightly grease baking sheets. In a medium bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, lemon peel, salt, spices & pepper. In big bowl, beat together butter and sugar until creamy. Beat in the egg. Add the flour mixture alternately with milk, and beat it well after each addition. Stir in chopped walnuts and anise seeds with a wooden spoon. Drop dough by teaspoonfuls, 2″ apart, on prepared baking sheets. Bake for 15-17 minutes. Cool slightly on wire racks (until just handleable). Roll in confectioners’ sugar while still warm; cool completely.
Notes
- Recipe of Cecilia Gustafsson (1891-1979), contributed by Kurt Gustafson.
- Wikipedia has an entry on Pfeffernusse history, traditions and variations.
- Photo by Durova under Creative Commons license.