Today, we are learning how to make pfeffernüesse or peppernut cookies. They sound surprisingly tasty for something I’ve never heard of before. You see, I grew up in a country home. Spices were a luxury and the spiciest thing I had growing up was black pepper. So I am excited to try these little cookies out. Today, baking reveals the world through pfeffernüesse.

My mom let me have her Better Homes and Garden cookbook from the early 1970s.  It’s older than my brothers and myself.  I used to covet this book and dream of growing up and getting my own.  I never got a cookbook until a few days ago when she finally handed it over.  Such a happy day!

We’ve been having a lot of bad luck online thanks to bad cooks thinking they are the next Julia Child. So much so, that we decided to follow some recipes from a cookbook that’s been around for generations.  It’s a no frills great for beginners and the experienced cookbook. In fact, several of the recipes I have made up over the years were adapted after reading this book for countless hours growing up. 

Many of the pages are long since gone like the one for dumplings, homemade noodles and chocolate chip cookies, but some unique ones are still pristine.  I opened it up to “cookies” and saw what was left.  This one intrigued me:  Pfeffernuesse.  I couldn’t even pronounce it.  But after reading the ingredients, it sounded delicious.

My family had so much fun learning how to make pfeffernüesse that we decided to make this a regular thing. Picking out random making recipes in a cookbook, not looking them up online and just winging it. It should be interesting as time goes by as I can see some being wonderful and others not a delight. Seriously, I’m so happy baking reveals the world through pfeffernüesse to me today. What country or region will we visit next?