Albert Einstein Birthday Party Pfeffernusse Cookies

Celebrating Albert Einstein’s birthday just got yummier with these Pfeffernusse cookies! A traditional German cookie the pfeffernusse, or “peppernuts”, get their name from a stiff dose of black pepper in the dough. Make them small so you can pop them into your mouth one at a time.
Ingredients: 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 cup butter — softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup dark molasses

1 large egg

powdered sugar

What’s Next:

Go ahead and grease your cookie sheet.

In large bowl- place flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda, salt, cloves, cardamom and pepper; stir to combine.

In separate large bowl- beat butter and sugar with electric mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in molasses and egg. Gradually add flour mixture. Beat at low speed until dough forms.

Go ahead and preheat your oven to 350 F, 175 C

Form dough into a disc; wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, 30 minutes or up to 3 days.

Roll dough into 1-inch balls. Place balls 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown.

Remove cookies with spatula to wire racks; dust with sifted powdered sugar. Cool completely. Store tightly covered at room temperature or freeze up to 3 months. This recipe for Pfeffernusse serves/makes 5 dozen.

Enjoy your Albert Einstein’s birthday celebrating while enjoying these fabulous German cookies!

Essen Sie gut und lachen Sie oft.

A Cookie Made in Heaven, Just in Time for Valentine’s Day

The sugar cookie is an open canvas you can paint anything on. For a special Valentine’s Day treat, I like to prescribe these cookies with a healthy dose of mint chocolate chips and shaped into a heart.

Ingredients:

• 2 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (No imitation, please)
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract (Trust me)
• Bag of mint chocolate chips for sprinkling

What’s Next:

Go preheat the oven to 375 and get some romantic music going, what about old blue eyes?

In a small bowl, sifting makes perfect; sift together flour, baking soda & baking powder.

In a large bowl, beat together butter & sugar until uniform. Next, crack that egg & beat in. Add vanilla & lemon extracts.

Add half of flour mixture and blend, once blended add other half.

Get some wax paper out of the cupboard. Lay down a long sheet and sprinkle with flour. Roll out your dough and start cookie-cutting away! Once all the dough has turned heart-shaped, sprinkle mint chocolate chips on top. Place on an un-greased cookie sheet.

Bake 8 - 10 minutes, or until golden.

And voila! Delicious sugar cookies with just a hint of lemon, perfect for any sweetheart. Enjoy!