Pfeffernüsse

Pfeffernüsse are small spice

History

Johann Fleischmann, a confectioner from

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

• In northern Germany, Pfeffernüsse are a hemispherical pastry up to two centimetres in diameter and of firm consistency.
• The northern Moppen variant are larger[20] and softer, based on a gingerbread-like dough, and have an icing glaze.
• In southern Germany, the dough is made with
  almonds.^[21]
• In Saxony, they are about three centimetres, uncoated and angular.
• 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.

Dutch variation

The Netherlands gives the name

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)

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.

Russian tea cakes are also confused with pfeffernüsse, especially when dusted in powdered sugar.^{[citation needed]}

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pfeffernüsse.

• Muskazine
• Lebkuchen
• Aachener Printen
• Stollen
• Speculaas
• Baumkuchen
• Springerle
• Vanillekipferl
• Bethmännchen
• de:Heidesand
• de:Zimtstern
• de:Berliner Brot
• Dutch
  )
• Dutch
  )
• Macaroon (de)

References