• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Winners
  • Disclosure/Privacy
  • Secondary Navigation Social Media Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

Rita Reviews

living my best possible southern life

  • Food
  • Life
  • Our Family
  • Reviews
  • Wellness

Pfeffernuesse | 25 Days of Me

Dec 10, 2023 | Rita

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
25 days of me 2023
Jump to Recipe

I posted this recipe originally back in 2012 and then updated it in 2021 but I thought i would share it again as these cookies are always so perfect during the holidays. These were my daddy’s favorite cookies and I never could pronoun the name right. I use to have to call him and ask “How do you pronoun those German cookies you like?” He would give me the name and then I would search everywhere for them.

When I worked for the grocery store I would make sure that every Christmas the vendor who sold them brought more than enough in. There were years when they were hard to come by but I always did my best to make sure he had them. Luckily, I learned not only how to pronoun the name but how to make them.

Pfeffernuesse cookiesl - Rita reviews

While they are certainly a holiday cookie you can enjoy them anytime of the year. Every Christmas I still make these. Even though my dad has been gone for more than twenty years. Christmas just doesn’t seem like Christmas without them. Christmas was my dad’s favorite time of the year and I do my best to keep that spirit alive. It wasn’t always the easiest thing to do and some years it seems harder than others.

COMING TOMORROW: Self Portrait

However, I manage it even in the thin years. One thing my dad always taught us that Christmas is about more than just the presents. It is about the spirit and joy of the season. It’s about the birth of Jesus as well but there was always something joyful about daddy this time of the year. He had an extra bounce in his step. He loved to go look at lights in town, worked hard to decorate our house, and invited as many people as he could to dinner at our house.

He also never went by one of those red buckets outside of stores without dropping something in it, even if it was just the change he had in his pocket. Attended midnight mass even if he had just gotten off work, and worked so hard to give us the best possible Christmas each year. He is sorely missed all the time but this time of the year the pain of the loss of him is even more pronounced.

Pfeffernuesse

My father's favorite cookies during the holidays.
Print Recipe
Pfeffernuesse cookies

Ingredients

  • 3 cups Flour, sifted
  • 1 tsp Baking Powder
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp Allspice
  • 1/4 tsp Ground Cloves
  • 1/4 tsp Nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp Mace
  • 3 Eggs beaten lightly
  • 3/4 cups Sugar
  • 1 Lemon juice and rind
  • 2/3 cups Chopped Nuts

Instructions

  • Measure flour and sift with baking powder, salt, and spices.
  • Add sugar slowly to beaten eggs and stir in lemon juice and grated lemon rind.
  • Add dry ingredients and nuts and mix well. Refrigerate 2 hours.
  • Roll out 1/2″thick and cut with tiny cutter 3/4″ round.
  • Let cookies stand over night in cool place on ungreased cookie sheet.
  • Just before baking, put a drop of brandy on each cookie.
  • Bake brandy side up in 300 degree F oven for 1/2 hour.
  • Cool thoroughly and place in tightly covered jar.
Author: Rita
← Previous Post
Not Mud | 25 Days of Me
Next Post →
My Favorite Bible Verse | 25 Days of Me

Categories: Food + Our Family Tags: 25 Days of Me + 25 Days of Me 2023 + Cookies + Desserts + Recipes

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kate F. says

    October 15, 2012 at 11:36 am

    Those look delicious! Thanks for sharing the recipe!

    Reply
  2. andrejka says

    December 10, 2012 at 1:49 am

    I ate it in Germany, it was delicious. I think I´m gonna try it 🙂

    Reply
  3. Mel says

    December 18, 2012 at 8:25 pm

    I wish I had known about this when I was in Germany, at least I ate a variations of pretzels though.

    Reply
    • Rita says

      December 19, 2012 at 8:22 am

      I bet they were great. You can get these here in the US now. I have only ever seen them during the holiday season here or you can make your own.

      Reply
  4. Diana C says

    January 17, 2013 at 10:57 pm

    Oh, yum. I remember trying these in German class in HS. Thanks for sharing. 🙂

    Reply
  5. Tammy S says

    April 28, 2013 at 11:54 am

    Man oh man these sound and look good. I will have to give them a try. My husband has family from Germany so if I get it wrong I am sure they will let me know. 🙂

    Reply
  6. Antoinette M says

    January 21, 2023 at 4:03 pm

    Looks delicious. Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply
  7. Elizabeth says

    March 19, 2023 at 12:34 pm

    Do you use a cookie stamp for the tops?

    Reply
  8. mami2jcn says

    December 10, 2023 at 6:38 am

    It’s nice to have those traditions. Growing up my family never baked anything, so I try to bake often with my kids.

    Reply
  9. heather says

    December 10, 2023 at 9:28 am

    I will have to print this one. These sound so yummy thanks for sharing this recipe.

    Reply
  10. Rita Wray says

    December 10, 2023 at 12:19 pm

    Thank you, they look delicious.

    Reply
  11. Elizabeth says

    December 10, 2023 at 1:17 pm

    I miss my dad this time of year, too. I always confuse these with Pepperkakkor, but these look more my speed!

    Reply
  12. Audrey Stewart says

    December 21, 2023 at 9:34 am

    I love reading how fondly you loved and miss your dad. I am always envious of people that have had that love. I didn’t like the switches in the present box story, but you’re not bitter about it so why should I be.

    Reply
  13. Shelly Peterson says

    December 26, 2023 at 4:47 pm

    These cookies look really good. I love baking with the grandkids.

    Reply
  14. Rita Wray says

    February 24, 2024 at 2:15 pm

    Looks great.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Rita 2024 Profile

I live in a small Georgia town that you most likely have never heard of and I LOVE it! I am a does to the beat of her own drum woman. Welcome to My Southern Life! Grab a glass of sweet tea and brace yourself as I share the craziness.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Regular Series

LIFE AT SHADY PINES

MONTH IN REVIEW

FRIDAY CONVERSATIONS

MY RECIPES

Enter to Win


2025 Friday Conversation Giveaway

Winners

2023 Giveaway Winners Jan Background

Extra Giveaway Entries

Extra Giveaway Entries Sidebar

Currently Reading

I Just Adore!



Amazon Affiliate

Rita Reviews is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Footer

Become a VIP

We have a Facebook VIP Group where you will find extra entries to the giveaways and more.

JOIN VIP FACEBOOK GROUP

Find us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Copyright © 2025 · Rita Reviews

Juniper Theme by Code + Coconut

 

Loading Comments...