BitterSweet

Peppered with Sweet Presents

December 13, 2021

Sugar cookies iced with delicate features come to life; chocolate snow caps shake off a light dusting of powdered sugar to reveal cacao crevasses; peanut butter blossoms bloom in the dead of winter. Christmastime is cookie time, and everyone has a favorite. Taste memories are intrinsically linked with these cherished, traditional flavors, which makes it hard to break away and try something new.

What if I told you there was a way to satisfy the craving for nostalgia, while still feeding the desire for adventure? Small twist on established crowd-pleasers make sure that everyone walks away happy. Besides, in the case of my Chocolate PfeffernĆ¼sse, who’s ever complained about adding in some extra chocolate?

German “pepper nuts” are basically soft, anise-forward gingerbread bites with a hint of alluring cardamom the lingers like a sweet memory. Condensing a world of flavors into such small packages, these classic holiday treats are long overdue for a modern revival.

This year, I have Rodelle helping me make that comeback possible. Their extracts and cocoa powder are essential staples in my pantry all year round, but they really shine when it’s time to bring out the very best treats for the holidays. You can taste that quality in every bite thanks to Rodelle Gourmet Cocoa Powder, Vanilla Extract, and Pure Almond Extract here. Quite frankly, I wouldn’t entrust such an important task to any other brand.

As if the boldly re-imagined morsels, blanketed in a powdery sheath of confectioner’s sugar was not enough of a gift, Rodelle has offered to further sweeten one lucky reader’s holiday with a GIVEAWAY!

You’ll be able to bake right along with me using the best possible ingredients. This generous bundle includes (1) 4oz Pure Vanilla Extract, (1) 8oz Gourmet Baking Cocoa, (1) 2oz All-Natural Vanilla Paste, and (1) 2oz Almond Extract. To enter be sure to follow @RodelleVanilla on Instagram, and find more ways to rack up entries below.

Rodelle Baking Bundle Giveaway

Everyone’s a winner here, because you can still enjoy these divine chocolate cookies no matter what. You might want to double the recipe if you plan on sharing, though.

Yield: Makes 18 - 20 Cookies

Chocolate PfeffernĆ¼isse Cookies

Chocolate PfeffernĆ¼isse Cookies

These soft chocolate cookies are spiced like gingerbread with an emphasis on anise and cardamom. They may just be your new favorite Christmas cookie!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Additional Time 30 minutes
Total Time 52 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 Cup Vegan Butter
  • 1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons Aquafaba
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Rodelle Almond Extract
  • 1 1/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour
  • 1/4 Cup Blanched Almond Flour
  • 1/4 Cup Rodelle Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder
  • 1/4 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips or Finely Chopped Semi-Sweet Chocolate
  • 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Salt
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Ground Anise Seeds
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cloves
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cardamom
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Ground White Pepper
  • 1 - 2 Cups Confectioner's Sugar, as Needed

Instructions

  1. In your stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Scrape down the side of the bowl to prevent any lumps from being left behind. Beat in the aquafaba and almond extract until smooth.
  2. Combine the flour, almond meal, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices in a large bowl. Gradually add this dry mixture to the mixer. Stir slowly until a cohesive dough begins to form so that the dry ingredients don’t fly out and decorate your kitchen walls with spicy holiday cheer. Manually press the dough into a ball and wrap it tightly in plastic before placing it into the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes.
  3. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line two baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper.
  4. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls, handling them as little as possible. Place them about two inches apart on your prepared baking sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the cookies are set and slightly darkened around the edges. Remove the sheets from the hot pans and let the cookies cool completely.
  5. Toss the cookies in confectioner's sugar to thoroughly coat. Enjoy!

Notes

Adapted from Sweet Vegan Treats by Hannah Kaminsky.

Recommended Products

Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link. I have experience with all of these companies and I recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something through my links.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

20

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 177Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 104mgCarbohydrates: 28gFiber: 2gSugar: 18gProtein: 2g

All nutritional information presented within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on BitterSweetBlog.com should only be used as a general guideline. This information is provided as a courtesy and there is no guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. Even though I try to provide accurate nutritional information to the best of my ability, these figures should still be considered estimations.

© Hannah Kaminsky
Cuisine: German / Category: Cookies and Bars

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