If you love cookies, these gluten free pfeffernusse cookies will soon become one of your favorites :-). Crunchy, with a hint of spice, these German holiday cookies make a delicious treat all year long.
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I am so excited for this holiday season. Cookies are my thing, as you can probably tell from all of the cookie recipes on my blog. The holidays are an excuse to make cookies more often! If you love cookies as much as I do, you may want to buy my Gluten Free Cookies From Around The World e-cookbook too!
You will love how this recipe came to be. I was at fencing class with my son when I got an urgent text message from Mr. Fearless Dining. It was a photo of a box of regular pfeffernusse cookies and a note, "please make this gluten free for me soon."
If you are looking for more gluten free cookie recipes, check out all of my gluten free holiday cookies.
This recipe is for my die-hard gluten free cookie fans. (My kids also just asked me to tell you to try two of their favorites: Gluten Free Nutella Stuffed Linzer Cookies and these Gluten Free Russian Tea Cookies.)
What are Pfeffernusse Cookies?
Pfeffernusse are a popular cookie in Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark.
My husband's family is from Germany and his grandmother used to bake homemade pfeffernusse cookies during the holidays. Since going gluten free, he hasn't really thought about this cookie...until he was grocery shopping with our daughter a few days ago.
Seeing the box of cookies triggered his memories and I knew I had to create a gluten free version for him. One bite of this gluten free pfeffernusse cookie and I think you will be hooked too.
Did you know you can also use this recipe to make an amazing Gluten Free Cookie Mix? Just layer it in a mason jar for easy gift-giving!
Ingredients notes:
- Gluten free flour blend - Gluten free flour blend - I tested this recipe using Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten Free Flour Blend and King Arthur's Measure for Measure Gluten Free Blend. That doesn't mean others will not work, I just have not tested other flours.
- Xanthan gum - If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add 1 teaspoon. This is what holds the cookies together.
- Almond flour - I highly suggest using almond flour and not almond meal. Almond meal is more coarse and will make your cookies grainy.
- Butter - To make these cookies dairy-free, use vegan butter.
- Molasses - You can use regular or blackstrap molasses.
I also have a lot of great recommendations for my Favorite Cookie Baking Equipment.
Recipe step-by-step directions:
Step 1: In a bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients. Hint: You may need to chop up a bit of the almond flour like you can see in this picture.
Step 2: Whisk together the wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Next, pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix well.
Step 3: Use a
Step 4: Bake your cookies at 350º F for 8-10 minutes. You don't want to over-bake them and have them get too hard.
Step 5: Once the cookies have baked, you will want to roll them in powdered sugar.
This cookie recipe is perfect for a holiday party, or even a cookie exchange party. Although these gluten free pfeffernusse cookies remind me of Christmas, they are a delicious cookie to bake all year round!
Want to see more gluten free cookie recipes? Click here to see all cookie recipes on this site.
Tips and Recipe FAQ:
You can make them dairy-free by using palm shortening, or coconut oil. It will change the texture a little bit, but the flavor is still great!
I store my almond flour in the refrigerator to prevent it from going rancid. This cold makes the almond flour bunch up a bit sometimes.
You can easily make these pfeffernusse cookies nut-free by omitting the almond flour and adding ⅓ cup additional gluten free flour blend.
These cookies should keep up to 4 days. You can also freeze them easily in a freezer-safe zip-style freezer bag. Freeze them flat.
If you want to create a delicious German dinner to enjoy before you eat these cookies, check out my Gluten Free Schnitzel recipe! This recipe also includes a recipe for German potato salad that is delicious with the schnitzel!
More Delicious Gluten Free Cookie Recipes To Try!
- Gluten Free Ginger Cookies
- Gluten Free Austrian Vanillekipferl Cookies
- Gluten Free Roasted Chestnut Cookies
- Swiss Brunsli Cookies
📖 Recipe
Gluten Free Pfeffernusse Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups gluten free flour blend * see note
- ¾ cup almond flour * see note
- ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon all spice
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 stick of butter melted (½ cup)
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons molasses
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon water
- powdered sugar for dusting after the cookies have cooled
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350º F.
- In a large bowl, add all dry ingredients.
- Whisk to blend.
- In a small bowl, add all wet ingredients and mix well.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
- Mix well.
- Use a cookie scoop to drop dough balls onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes until done.
- Remove and move to a cooling rack.
- Allow to cool.
- Drop each cookie into powdered sugar and toss to coat.
Notes
- I have tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure GF and Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 GF blend. That doesn't mean others will not work, I just have not tested other flours.
- If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
- To make this recipe dairy-free, substitute the butter for vegan butter.
- I highly suggest using almond flour and not almond meal. Almond meal is more coarse and will make your cookies grainy.
- Allow your cookies to cool before rolling them in the powdered sugar!
- These cookies will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.
SPECIAL NOTE
Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn't test, you may need to adjust your moisture levels in your baked goods.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.
Fearless Dining
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Joy
Where's the pepper??? Pfeffernusse has pepper in it!!
Sandi Gaertner
It is funny you mention it. This was a German family recipe and it doesn't have pepper...but maybe someone didn't like pepper years ago in our family and they omitted it?
C Z
Great recipe base. I would highly recommend 25% more spices but that’s my preference and maybe not others.
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you enjoyed the cookies CZ! Thank you for coming back to let me know.
Michele
These are excellent! I have been missing Pfeffernüsse since I had to give up gluten several years ago. This recipe was so easy to make and they taste delicious. Thanks!
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe. This is one I converted to gf. It used to be in my husband's family for years.
Elizabeth
Thank you for a delicious gluten free pfeffernusse cookie recipe. The whole family enjoyed them. I will definitely make these again!
Sandi Gaertner
I am really glad you loved them Elizabeth :-).
Rosa
Can I use AP flour?
Thank you
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Rosa, I have never used AP flour so I am not sure how to advise on your question. Sandi
Su
What can I substitute the egg for? Thanks!
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Su, I have never made these without egg. You could try an egg replacer. Let me know how it goes.
Aviva
I just made a batch, and they turned out great! I'm at altitude, so I used a scant 1/2 tsp of baking soda, amped up the spices, and they're delicious.
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you liked these Aviva. I appreciate your coming back to let me know 🙂
Ang
Have you ever frozen these? Do you think they would be ok to freeze? Thanks!
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Ang. They freeze really well, but hold off on the powdered sugar until you thaw them out. Otherwise the sugar gets odd when it defrosts. Thank you so much!
Ang
Thanks! I was thinking the powdered sugar wouldn't do well. They turned out SO good! Love all the spices in every bite! My kiddos enjoyed them too. We will be freezing the rest for the big Christmas with my family!I did put the butter in when it wasn't entirely melted. The wet ingredients ended up too cold and separated but I popped it in the microwave for 30 seconds and all was good! Thanks for this awesome recipe!
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad your family liked them Ang. You made my day 🙂