Mom's Fabulous Pfeffernuesse

A delicious and rich little spice cookie-very flavorful and perfect for tea. My mother sends me some every year around Christmas, but they're so good that I begged her for the recipe. My favorite aunt Ava's version uses molasses instead of honey, but a combination is nice, and the honey helps them stay fresh.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Yields: 26 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄4 cups butter
• 1 1⁄4 cups brown sugar, packed
• 3⁄4 cup honey (OR a combination) or 3⁄4 cup molasses (OR a combination)
• 1⁄2 cup water
• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1  dash pepper
• 1⁄2 teaspoon clove
• 1⁄2 teaspoon allspice
• 1⁄4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1⁄4 teaspoon mace
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1⁄8 teaspoon cardamom
• 6  cups flour
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1  teaspoon  anise extract
• 2  cups  nuts, chopped

Directions

1. Cream butter, add sugar, cream well.
2. Blend in honey (molasses) and 1/2 of water.
3. Dissolve soda in remaining water.
4. Add with sifted dry ingredients, anise and nuts to creamed mixture.
5. Mix well.
6. Chill.
7. On greased cookie sheets, 10- 12 min, 375F.
8. My mother used to make long rolls of dough, 3/4 in.
9. thick, and slice'em off.
10. Ava has some kind of sausage stuffer- works on same principle.
11. I use a melon-baller, which does take some time.
12. My batch is usually 26 dozen or so, if I remember right.
13. Good luck and enjoy.
14. Love, Mom.