When I spent my first Christmas with my in-laws in 2011, I tried peppernuts for the first time. Have you had them? They're sweet but earthy Christmas cookies – kind of addicting and very festive! Nate and I both come from families with Danish ancestry. Here's his grandma's recipe:
Peppernuts
1 1/2 c butter
1 1/2 c sugar
1/2 c honey
1 1/2 c butter
1 1/2 c sugar
1/2 c honey
1/4 c milk
8 drops anise oil
5 1/2 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp vanilla
Cream the butter; beat in sugar. Add honey, milk, anise, vanilla, sift in dry ingredients, and mix. Line 9x13 pan with plastic wrap. Press dough into pan and chill about 4 hours. Remove dough from pan, using the plastic wrap to help lift it out. Slice the dough into thin strips about 2" long. Bake at 350ºF for 9 minutes. Coat with powdered sugar when warm.
8 drops anise oil
5 1/2 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp vanilla
Cream the butter; beat in sugar. Add honey, milk, anise, vanilla, sift in dry ingredients, and mix. Line 9x13 pan with plastic wrap. Press dough into pan and chill about 4 hours. Remove dough from pan, using the plastic wrap to help lift it out. Slice the dough into thin strips about 2" long. Bake at 350ºF for 9 minutes. Coat with powdered sugar when warm.
Alex's minor edits:
- Each cookie should be about the size of a domino.
- Freeze the dough for one hour if you're in a hurry
- Bake for about 13 minutes if chilled in freezer
This recipe was first shared in my newsletter in 2019. [link]
