Pebernødder aka Danish Pepper Nuts

It's getting close to Christmas, 60 days to be exact.
(That stresses me out just thinking about it!)

Anyway, since it's coming soon, I thought I'd post my recipe for a traditional Christmas cookie here in Denmark, Pebernødder. According to Wiki, these little cookies have a multitude of names, and varieties from several different countries.

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup (225 grams) butter, softened

1 cup (200 grams) sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon ground cardamom

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 teaspoons white pepper

1 teaspoon salt

2 3/4 cups (345 grams) all purpose flour + extra as needed

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350F/177C.

Lightly grease (or cover with parchment paper) baking pans.

Cream together butter and sugar.

Mix in 1 egg at a time, beating well after each.

Add spices and salt and mix until well blended.

Mix in flour, slowly, 1 cup at a time, until the dough begins to gather.

Add more flour if needed until the dough about the same consistency as pizza dough, then pinch off a large amount and roll it into a 'snake', you may need to flour your hands beforehand, as this may get a little sticky.

 

Cut the 'snake' into small pieces to roll into balls 

(or, if you want just leave the pieces as is).

Place the raw cookie balls onto the baking sheets. (You will have 200 or so.)

Bake from about 10-12 minutes, until the bottoms are a light tan-brown.

Cool for 15 minutes.

These cookies will harden after they have thoroughly cooled.

If you prefer, you can always make larger cookies. I've done this many times to use up my dough when I got tired of rolling up little tiny balls. The larger cookies are usually softer and chewier than the small ones, which are meant to be fairly hard, and eaten with coffee or tea, or even hot chocolate. If you prefer the smaller size, just add more flour to make them harder, or less to make them softer.

Linking up here:
Not Just A Housewife
A Diamond in the Stuff
Reasons To Skip the Housework
Chef in Training
Confessions of a Stay At Home Mommy
Sugar Bee Crafts
Whipperberry
I ♥ Naptime