Pfeffernüsse
Created in 1753 in Hesse, Germany (where I often spent summers growing up), the name of these heavily spiced and delightfully chewy cookies literally translates to pepper nuts. They do look a bit like nuts before baking, and they do have a bit of pepper in them, so perhaps that is why.
These are a popular treat in Germany around Christmas, but I like to make them in the weeks after, as I find that the warm spices bring some extra cheer to the dark winter days that don't have holidays in them.
