A cup of tea refreshes you and if you have crispy biscuits to go with the tea then you feel as if you are in heaven. Biscuits are a favorite accompaniment with tea or coffee or any beverage that goes well with a crunchy munch. Generally, biscuits are prepared as sweet or savory items but a particular type of biscuits called pfeffernusse are prepared with an additional dash of spice.
Pfeffernusse are given a round shape and are usually small and hard. Traditionally prepared during the festive Christmas season, many pfeffernusse recipes call for the use of black pepper. Many variations to this recipe exist whereby spices as diverse as white pepper, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, anise, nutmeg or cardamom may be used to add the spicy flavor. In Germany, pfeffernusse also are referred to as eiwei�geback or pimpernusse depending on which region you are traveling in Germany while in Denmark they are called pebern�dder.
Now, do you want to know the exact recipe for preparing these pfeffernusse for yourself? Well, given below is the recipe to help you out with your wish. It is indeed worth the try if you are the kind of person who likes to experiment with food after all not everyday you have an unusual biscuit with a cup of tea.
Ingredients:
All-purpose flour – 1 � cups
Brown sugar – 1 cup
Butter (softened) – 1/2 cup
Eggs (whole) – 2 nos.
Baking powder – 1 tsp
Vanilla essence – 1 tsp
Lemon essence – 1/2 tsp
Anise Extract – 1/2 tsp
Cinnamon powder – 1 tsp
Black pepper powder- 1/2 tsp
A pinch of nutmeg and clove powders
Sugar (coarsely powdered) – 1/2 cup
Salt – 1/2 tsp
Method:
1.) In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and brown sugar together. To this add the eggs, essences and anise extract and blend thoroughly.
2.) Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and spice powders. Add these to the egg-butter mixture. Mix well to get dough.
3.) Refrigerate this for 2 hours.
4.) Preheat oven to 185°C. Make small rounded balls of the dough and place them on a greased baking tray and bake for 10 minutes.
5.) Remove from oven and sprinkle with powdered sugar while the biscuits are still warm.
6.) Cool the biscuits completely before storing them in airtight containers.
(Servings: 25)
Source: Allrecipes, Wikipedia
