When I think back about Christmas from my childhood, no memory is complete without my Mom’s cookies, but especially her German Peppernuts; or Pfeffernusse.
Her German heritage shines in these cookies that have become a family favourite with all my siblings, and now with our children.
My mom is 81 years old this Christmas, and she still makes these cookies every holiday season.
As a matter of fact, she just taught my youngest children how to make them this season.
I hope you enjoy these as much as we do.
• Chef Dez is a food columnist and culinary instructor in the Fraser Valley. Visit him at www.chefdez.com. Send questions to dez@chefdez.com or to P.O. Box 2674, Abbotsford, B.C. V2T 6R4.
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German Peppernut Cookies
(Pfeffernusse – A recipe from Chef Dez’s mother)
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Ingredients:
1 cup lard (Crisco is recommended)
1 cup milk
2 cups white sugar
2 cups corn syrup
8 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp. peppermint extract
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. ground black pepper
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
Icing sugar
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Directions:
Heat together the lard, milk, sugar, and corn syrup. Mix well, and let cool.
Preheat oven to 350º degrees.
Add the flour, peppermint extract, baking powder, pepper, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Mix well.
Roll into small balls (about the size of a walnut) and bake for 15 minutes.
Shake hot cookies in a bag of icing sugar to coat.
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