Culture

Food History

These Old-School Holiday Cookies Make Black Pepper The Star By Jessica Riggio Dec. 9, 2025 10:39 am EST

Dominik Spalek/Getty Images

There's an unassuming type of cookie that belongs in your lineup of holiday treats this year, a cookie with a classic look and a dazzling taste. They are soft and dense, and at first glance, you might just think they're dollops of gingerbread, dusted with powdered sugar. There is a little, peppery surprise hidden inside these cookies, though. They aren't made from your average gingerbread; they're a spicy sort of ginger snap with undertones of black licorice and a hint of cloves. These are German pfeffernüsse cookies built on black pepper, with spices like nutmeg, ginger, and cinnamon, and touches of molasses and honey.

In

See Full Page