PFEFFERNÜSSE COOKIES

Some of you might already be aware that Susan at "Food Blogga" (USA) is organizing a worldwide event called "Eat Christmas Cookies" and which might enable you to win a gorgeous cookbook (see infos). You just have to bake a batch of cookies/biscuits, blog about them and send Susan an e-mail with all the needed informations until the 17th of December 2007!

As it will soon be Christmas, today, I have decided to write about a holiday cookie recipe that I very much love and which you will surely enjoy if you are a fan of spices.It is the second consecutive year that I bake them and I am still very much impressed by their enticing flavor...

A "Pfeffernuss" (singular of "Pfeffernüsse", pronounce "feh-fer-noose") is small, round, slightly crumbly, dense and "hard" (but not dry) traditional Christmas "gingerbread" biscuit that can be found in Germany and Denmark ("Pebernødder"). In Holland "Peppernoten" are baked generally for Saint Nicholas Day. It's name translates to "Pepper Nut(s)", because it is subtly aromatized with spices such as ground white pepper, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves. Many variations exist (spice combinations) and certain recipes call for nutmeg or anise while others call for a totally different spice mix. Generally, "Pfeffernüsse" also contain honey which gives them a delightful and rich tinge of sweetness.

This very recipe is divine. The spices are well-balanced and not too overwhelming, but nontheless very present, thus making those cute little cookies taste delightful!

~ Pfeffernüsse Cookies ~
Recipe by www.lausanne-famille.ch and adapted by Rosa @ Rosa's Yummy Yums

Makes about 50 cookies.

Ingredients:
90g (6Tbs/3/4 stick/3 oz) Unsalted butter
30g (2 Tbs/1 oz) Castor sugar
80g (3 1/2 Tbs/2.6 oz) Liquid honey
200g (1 1/2 cups + 1 Tbs/6.6 oz) Plain white flour
1/3 Tsp Baking powder
A pinch salt
1/2 Tsp Ground cardamom
1 1/2 Tsps Ground cinnamon
1/4 Tsp Ground cloves

Ingredients for the icing:
120g (1 cup/4 oz) Powder sugar
1 Tbs Lemon juice
1 Tbs Water

Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 150° C (300° F).
2. Mix all the ingredients for the icing and set aside.
3. In a pan, melt the butter together with the sugar and honey.
4. Transfer that mixture to a bowl and let cool for a few minutes.

5. Add the spices, the flour, baking powder and salt. Incorporate them in order to get a smooth dough.
6. Shape little balls (1 ½ cm/0.6 inches) with the dough and place them on a baking tray lined with baking paper.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes.
8. Remove them from the oven. With the help of a brush, coat each warm cookie with the icing.
9. Transfer them to a rack and let cool.

Remarks:
If you wish you can add an extra pinch of ground white pepper to the mixture.
The butter/sugar/honey mixture should still be warm (lukewarm) when you add the flour.

Serving suggestions:
As with all cookies/biscuits, there is no rule regarding the way you eat them! Nontheless, i woul recommend you to serve those "Pfeffernüsse" with a good and refreshing "cuppa cha (cup of tea)" or a glass of cold milk...

***************

~ Pfeffernüsse (Biscuits Aux Epices) ~
Recette par www.lausanne-famille.ch et adaptée par Rosa @ Rosa's Yummy Yums

Pour environ 50 biscuits.

Ingrédients:
90g de Beurre non-salé
30g de Sucre cristallisé
80g de Miel liquide
200g de Farine fleur
1/3 CC de Poudre à lever
Une pincée de sel
1/2 CC de Cardamome en poudre
1 1/2 CC de Cannelle en poudre
1/4 CC de Clous de girofle en poudre

Ingrédients pour le glaçage:
100g de Sucre glace
1 CS de Jus de citron
1 CS d'Eau

Méthode:
1. Préchauffer le four à 150° C (300° F).
2. Mélanger tous les ingrédients pour le glaçage et mettre de côté.

3. Dans une casserole, faire fondre le beurre, le sucre et le miel.
4. Verser ce mélange dans un bol et laisser refroidir un peu.
5. Ajouter les épices, la farine, la poudre à lever et le sel. Incorporer afin d'obtenir une pâte souple.
6. Former des boules d’un diamètre de 1 ½ cm, les poser sur une plaque garnie avec du papier sulfurisé
7. Cuire au four pendant 20 minutes dans le four préchauffé à 150°C (300° F).

8. A l'aide d'un pinceau à pâtisserie, appliquer le glaçage sur les biscuits chauds.
9. Transférer les biscuits sur une grille et les laisser refroidir.

Remarques:
Si vous le désirez, vous pouvez ajouter une pincée de poivre blanc en poudre.
Le mélange beurre/sucre/miel doit en core être tiède quand vous ajoutez la farine.

Idées de présentation:
Comme pour tous cookies/biscuits, il n'y a pas de règle concernant la consommation de ces petites merveilles! Néanmoins, je vous conseille vivement d'accompagner vos "Peffernüsse" d'un bon thé ou d'un verre de lait froid...