Pfeffernuesse
Healthy Christmas Recipe
By Fitness and Freebies
Pfeffernuesse, also known as German Peppernuts, is a delicious and tender cookie made for the Feast of St. Nicholas every year.
Recipe Ingredients
1-1/2 cups honey
1/4 cup shortening
1 egg
4 cups sifted all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground allspice
3/4 teaspoon ground cardamon seed
1/4 teaspoon pepper (optional)
1/4 teaspoon ground anise seed
Recipe Directions
Heat honey (do not boil) in saucepan large enough to mix entire dough. Add shortening. Cool. Beat in egg. Sift remaining ingredients together, gradually stirring into honey mixture. Reserve 35 minutes to stiffen.
Shape into 1-inch balls. Bake on lightly greased baking sheets 13 to 15 minutes at 350 degrees. See frosting below.
Frosting
Ingredients:
2 unbeaten pasturized egg whites
1 tablespoon strained honey
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamon seed
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground anise seed
Combine egg whites, honey, spices in 1-quart mixing bowl. Gradually add confectioners' sugar.
Place 12 to 14 Pfeffernuesse at a time in a smaller bowl with 2 tablespoons of icing. Stir Pfeffernuesse to coat all sides. Repeat.
Place on wire rack to cool. Store in air-tight container.
Recipe yields 6 to 7 dozen Pfeffernuesse.
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Christmas Fact
Spicy like Lebkuchen, firm like Springerle, these cookies come from what the German's call the "Oma Zeit," the grandmother's time.
