National Pfeffernusse Day
National Pfeffernusse Day
Celebrated on December 23rd, the National Pfeffernusse Day is all about a cookie that can spice up your chilly holiday season with some warmth and love. Read on to know more about the cookies and its rookies.
Year | Date | Day | Where |
2022 | 23rd December | Friday | United States |
2023 | 23rd December | Saturday | United States |
2023 | 23rd December | Sunday | United States |
Twitter Hashtags:
#NationalPfeffernusseDay
#PfeffernusseDay
Related: Other National Days Celebrated on December 23rd:
Why Pfeffernusse Day?
The pfeffernusse or simply the peppernuts according to the English translation are mouthwatering spicy cookies that can be traced back to central Europe and have been an integral part of the yuletide celebrations since the 1850s. These cookies are renowned in Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the Mennonites in North America. Though these are usually tiny cookies the pronunciation “FEHF-Fuhr-Noos” is quite a mouthful. Known by several names such as päpanät in Plautdietsch,‘pfeffernusse’ in German, and ‘pebernødder’ in Danish the fluffy cookie has the status of a traditional holiday bite.
Though the exact origin is forgotten in the winter mist, the cookie is associated with the traditional celebrations of the Dutch. The feast of Sinterklass observed on 5th December in the Netherlands and on 6th December in Germany and Belgium is closely linked to this cookie. The feast of Sinterklass is a holiday celebration where children receive gifts from St Nicholas. This concept has been thought to inspire the Santa Claus tradition in Christmas celebrations.
The name peppernut is thought to be an indicator of the spicy flavor and may refer to the nut-like size of the treat. The recipe doesn’t originally contain nuts though some variants have almonds or walnuts. The conventional ingredients in the recipe include flour, brown sugar, cloves, and cinnamon. Aromatic spices like cardamom, nutmeg, anise, and mace add to the savory flavor of the cookie. Molasses and honey are added occasionally to sweeten the cookie and may be dusted with powdered sugar giving it a sweet and spicy taste. Candied citrus peel, black pepper, paprika, and royal icing are the unconventional ingredients used in pfeffernusse.
Potassium Carbonate and ammonium carbonate are the 19th-century hipsters added to the pfeffernusse party. These are used as a leavening agent for achieving a sticky and dense dough texture. The flavor is said to deepen with time just like wine so the bakers welcome the holiday season by preparing the pfeffernusse batches beforehand, which can be utilized for the entire holiday season.
The pfeffernusse are initially hard and usually softens with time. Other cookie-like treats are often mistaken for pfeffernusse such as Kruidnoten or Russian tea cakes. Kruidnoten translated as spicy nut, exhibits a darker shade of brown and has a different shape and recipe. For the Christmas season, the pfeffernusse cookies are sometimes made into star shapes with cookie cutters.
Is it sweet, is it spicy, we don’t care as long as it is tasty! If you want to try out novelty recipes and give your family a surprise holiday treat the Pfeffernusse is the right choice. The holidays call for treats and the pfeffernusse is certainly a must-have to pep up your celebrations for the season.
How Can We Observe National Pfeffernusse Day?
- Perfusion Of the Pfeffernusse
Bake these delicious cookies with your family or friends at the onset of the holiday season! Treat your taste buds with the aromatic, savory perfusion of the Pfeffernusse.
- Be a St Nicholas
This holiday season, share some Pfeffernusse with the nearest old age homes or orphanages and spread the joy!
- Share Pfeffernusse with the world!
Post your photos, videos of your celebration on social media using the #NationalPfeffernusseDay and #PfeffernusseDay
Interesting Facts On National Pfeffernusse Day:
Few interesting facts related to Pfeffernusse day!
- Though the Pfeffernusse can be traced back to Europe, its origin is still unknown.
- The Pfeffernusse is more closely linked to the Christmas celebrations than the feast of Sinterklass in Germany.
- Before Oreos came into the picture, Pfeffernusse was the dunk in liquid cookie due to its hard consistency.
- Pfeffernusse are a low-calorie cookie due to minimal or no use of oil or butter in the conventional recipes.
- Pfeffernusse can turn bitter if the spices are not balanced.
- The recipes in Northern Germany tend to be similar to the gingerbread recipe whereas, in Southern Germany lemon, orange peel, and almonds are also used.
History of National Pfeffernusse Day:
While the origins of the National Pfeffernusse Day are long forgotten, you’d hardly forget the sweet and spicy Pfeffernusse cookies once you taste them!