Sharing food #Holidays with you more times than not is a learning experience for my family which includes December 23 — National Pfeffernusse Day #NationalPfeffernusseDay when I had to look up the #Holiday which let me know we was celebrating a Cookie.

I’ve shared some facts below on National Pfeffernusse Day and a recipe for Pfeffernusse in case you want to make these Cookies for your friends and family. As for me I’m going to wait until Charlie comes home in January and make them for us.

December 23 — National Pfeffernusse Day #NationalPfeffernusseDay

National Pfeffernusse Day is celebrated every year on December 23rd to honor the beloved spiced holiday Cookie known as Pfeffernüsse. Pfeffernusses are small, round treats—often dusted in powdered Sugar. The Cookies have deep roots in German, Dutch, and Danish holiday traditions. They’re especially tied to celebrations like St. Nicholas Day and Christmas and have been enjoyed since at least the 18th Century.

If you’re looking for a cozy way to get into the holiday spirit, baking a batch of Pfeffernüsse is a perfect choice. Like I mentioned above here is a recipe for you to use. If you’ve had Pfeffernusse before what did you think of the Cookie and why?

Here’s a cozy, classic Pfeffernüsse cookie recipe—those wonderfully spiced German holiday cookies that taste like Christmas in a bite. I’ll give you a clear, reliable version you can bake today.

🎄 Pfeffernüsse (German Spice Cookies)

🧂 Ingredients

Dry ingredients

2 ¼ cups all‑purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground black pepper (the “pfeffer”!)
Optional: pinch of cardamom or allspice for extra warmth

Wet ingredients

½ cup unsalted butter, softened
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup molasses or dark honey
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Coating

Powdered sugar for rolling

🍪 Instructions

1. Mix the dry ingredients

In a medium bowl, whisk together: flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, pepper, and any optional spices.

2. Cream the butter and sugar

Beat the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the molasses (or honey), egg, and vanilla. Mix until smooth.

3. Combine

Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix until a thick dough forms. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour (overnight is even better for flavor).

4. Shape

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll dough into 1‑inch balls and place on a parchment‑lined baking sheet.

5. Bake

Bake for 12–14 minutes, until the bottoms are lightly browned. They will firm up as they cool.

6. Coat

Let cookies cool for 5 minutes, then roll in powdered sugar. Once fully cool, roll them again for that classic snowy look.

Tips for Perfect Pfeffernüsse

Resting the dough overnight deepens the spice flavor.
For a softer cookie, slightly underbake.
For a more traditional German version, use honey instead of molasses.
They store beautifully and taste even better after a day or two.

If you want, I can also give you a glazed version, a softer version, or a more traditional German grandmother‑style version. Just leave me a comment with what you’re looking for, I will get to work on it.

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates