Pfeffernüsse are small spice cookies, popular as a holiday treat with Germans and ethnic Mennonites in North America.[1][2] Similar cookies are made in Denmark, and The Netherlands, as well. They are called Pfeffernüsse (plural, singular is Pfeffernuss) in German, pepernoten (sing. pepernoot) in Dutch, päpanät in Plautdietsch, pfeffernusse or peppernuts in English, and pebernødder in Danish.
In 1820, the Brothers Grimm warned their sister Charlotte (de) against excessive consumption: "Don't eat too much of the pepper nuts, they are said to cause a lot of heat!" At that time, nutmeg was considered an aphrodisiac, and cardamom as invigorating as caffeine.[7][10][11]
In Germany, Pfeffernüsse are associated with Christmas. The cookie has been part of yuletide celebrations since the 1850s.[12]
The name literally means 'peppernuts', and does not mean it contains nuts. The cookies are roughly the size of nuts and can be eaten by the handful, which may account for the name.[13][14] They are named for the pinch of pepper added to the dough before baking.[15]
There are some recipes passed down by families of German Mennonite origin that call for peppermint extract rather than the traditional spices, making for a light minty flavor. These cookies are cooked to be soft and coated in powdered sugar. Specific origin of this variation is unknown.[citation needed]
Dutch variation
The Netherlands gives the name kruidnoten to the small, brown, round cookies,[22] while pepernoten concerns a chewy snack that is lighter in color and has a chunky, angular appearance.[22][23] Even though they are perceivably different, some Dutch residents mistakenly call kruidnotenpepernoten and online stores list them under this category as well.[citation needed]
Both are holiday-exclusive snacks and available in any store that sells food around Sinterklaas time. Pepernoten are one of the earliest Sinterklaas candies, yet have become relatively rare, as most children do not prefer them.[citation needed]
Meanwhile, the kruidnoten recipe has become the subject of experimentation and been heavily expanded on throughout the years. Besides the regular variant and packages that include gummies and sugar candies, kruidnoten can be covered with a layer of (white/milk/pure/truffle) chocolate – which is one of the earliest and most loved variants – but also strawberry, caramel, stroopwafel, coconut, coffee, bubblegum, cake (any), etc.[citation needed]
Commonly mistaken for Pfeffernüsse
Pfeffernüsse are commonly mistaken for kruidnoten or spice nuts in English. While they are both famous holiday cookies, kruidnoten are harder, have a darker brown color, and have a different shape. Their ingredients are more similar to those used in speculaas.
^"Ich kann das Düsseldorfer Musikfest nicht dirigieren, weil ich mich ausruhen und nach Soden ziehen muss, fahre mit Frau Bernus nach Offenbach, um Pfeffernüsse zu kaufen." ("I can't conduct the Düsseldorf Music Festival because I have to rest and move to Soden, I'm going to Offenbach with Ms. Bernus to buy Pfeffernüsse.")
^Rathman, H.; Graber, A. (1906). "Pepper Nuts". In The Ladies of Berlin, Waterloo and Friends Elsewhere (ed.). The Berlin Cook Book. Berlin, Canada: The News Record Print Shop. p. 225 – via Canadiana.ca, Canadian Research Knowledge Network.
^Segarra, Jessica (5 December 2018). "Pfeffernusse Cookies". Imperial Sugar. Archived from the original on 2020-12-09. Retrieved 21 December 2020. They are similar to American gingerbread cookies, but are filled with extra spices and tossed in powdered sugar.
^Kleijn, Alexandra (2010). "Zähe Nikolauskost: Pepernoten und Taaitaai". Burr Taal (in German). Klein describes old Dutch pepernoten as tougher than German pfeffernüsse, but contrasts them with crisp kruidnoten.
The Canadian Living Test Kitchen (December 2007). "Pfeffernusse". Canadian Living. Very popular in many European countries, these lovely little cookies have black pepper, which enhances the other spices in the cookie without adding heat.
