Icelandic Pepper Cookies

These cookies are baked for Christmas in every home in Iceland.

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Serves: 36
• Yields: 3 dozen cookies

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄4 cups butter, softened
• 1 1⁄4 cups white sugar
• 3⁄4 cup light corn syrup
• 2  small eggs
• 3  cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 2  teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2  teaspoons ground cloves
• 1  teaspoon ground ginger
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

1. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Stir in corn syrup and eggs; cream well. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and pepper. Add dry ingredients to the butter mixture, and mix until smooth. Refrigerate dough over night.
2. Preheat oven to 350ºF (175ºC).
3. Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out cookies with a 2-inch round cookie cutter. Place at least 1 inch apart on cookie sheet and bake for 8 to 10 minutes in preheated oven.