Pebernødder, a Danish Christmas tradition
Pebernødder is a natural part of Christmas in Denmark and there is almost always a small bowl of Pebernødder accompanying the afternoon or evening coffee/tea time. Pebernødder may also be found in decorative paper cones (kræmmerhuse) which are hung on the Christmas tree and pebernødder are also used in childrens games. Although Pebernødder can be found in practically any store in Denmark, it’s really a fun activity to bake them at home, espically if you have younger children in your household. Baking with your children at Christmas time is an activity that brings closeness and hygge into the home (“hygge” danish word meaning coziness, togetherness, warmth). Kids love rolling the dough into long rolls and cutting them up into bite size pieces, not to mention the added benefit of getting first dips on tasting the cookies once out of the oven. Baking was one of my favorite activities with my parents when I was growing up and they are memories I’ll treasure forever.
Pebernødder is thought to be the oldest Christmas cookie in Denmark and it came, like so many things, from Germany (Pfeffernussen). Directly translated Pebernødder means pepper nuts. In the old days “to pepper” meant to season and they were reffered to as nuts because there was no baking soda back then and so the cookies were hard like nuts. Todays Pebernødder is not hard like nuts but rather crunchy and mildly spicy.
Pebbernødder hygge
Pebernødder dough
Ingredients:
80 gram butter (6 tablespoons)
225 gram sugar (1 cup plus 1 tablespoon)
1 egg
1 deciliter whipping cream (1/2 cup)
350 gram flour (3 cups) (add more flour if needed to bring dough together)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
Directions:
Preheat oven to 225 degrees C (400 degrees F). Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
In a bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, cardomom and set aside.
In your mixer using the paddle attachment, mix together butter and sugar until creamy and smooth. Add egg and mix. Then add whipping cream and mix. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix just until combined. Remove dough from mixing bowl onto a floured surface. Using your hands bring dough together, adding a little more flour if needed until it holds together and forms a ball. Divide dough into smaller pieces and roll into long rolls measuring the width of your fingers. Cut into 1 1/2 centimeter pieces. Place on baking sheets about 1 inch apart and bake for approximately 12 minutes until just turning golden.
Glædelig Jul and Merry Christmas♥
Pebbernødder Christmas parade
Source: Faster Philip
Thank you for the cookie recipe. My mother used to make these for me every christmas, but I am getting old and lost the recipe. These look just like her’s did.
Andy
Andy, I am so glad. I hope you give them a try
My husband is inviting his boss and her family over for dinner soon and she is from Denmark, so we were going to make some Danish food. My two choices for dessert are Pebbernoder and a Kringle. I was just curious, yours are two colors, what did you do to make yours the two seperate colors? btw they look scrumptious, better than the other recipies I have seen for this! You are a treasure trove of Danish recipies and I am so thankful to have found your blog! I have enjoyed perusing your recipies, and I have learned a whole lot!
Thank you for your kind words! I am real happy to hear you are enjoying my little blog.
I am assuming that you are asking about the difference in color in the Pebernødder. Real simple, one baking sheet full just got an extra minute in the oven, perhaps I got distracted
oh hehe, well it looked like it was on purpose
I thought maybe one had a different spice in it. I can’t wait to try these this weekend 
Hi!
I’ve been interested in Denmark and all things Danish since I was a little child (I used to read a story about a Danish boarding school that got me really hooked, the Puk series).
It was very interesting to learn about the history of these Christmas biscuits.
What really caught my attention was what you said about the fact that “to pepper” meant “to season”. I did not know that. Do you think this is the reason why the Swedish pepparkakor have that name? They don’t have pepper either, rather different seasonal spices.
Thanks!! Great blog!
Gabriela
how many do they make? I want to make it for a school project.
I did not count them but it makes a lot, perhaps 50?
Have to say I was happy to find your site… My 4 yr old has a ‘traditional food’ day 2moro in pre-school. The first thing that popped in my head were “Pevi’s” as we used to call them for short. Rather than the full Danish version that would get me and my cousins spitting all over each other trying to say in my Grandmother’s kitchen… always at Christmas.
I’ve always known that they were Danish Xmas cookies, but wanted a little smarter sounding version to send on the note attached with my son to school. Funny what you learn online about the little things you’ve done all your life! I definately plan on continuing this awesome tradition with my own children for years to come.
~4th generation off the boat, All American Dane!
I am very happy that my little blog have been able to reconnect so many Danish-American’s with their roots and it has been a lot of fun for myself to make all of these wounderful Danish cookies again, my waistline is complaining though
Tasty! My 3rd grader’s doing a report on Denmark. My Mother-in-Law was from Denmark. She died shortly after my oldest was born, and I’ve missed the traditions she would have passed down, had she been alive. She was very proud of her heritage. This site will be a great addition to my favorites. I imagine we’ll be making these every year from here on. Thank You!
My husband spent his childhood in Denmark – it will be wonderful baking up these little treats during Christmas for him and his family! Please share all the little tricks and recipes you have – I’m want to fill up my cookie jar with a lot of different Danish delights!
Gitte, I love your Danish holiday baking series, I appreciate all these wonderful cookie recipes that you’ve been sharing thanks:)
The cookies look so adorable and sounds yummy
You just make the holidays sweeter everyday 
Gitte, I love that you shared a Danish holiday cookie. I also appreciate the history behind these cookies. They sound delicious.
delicious cookie presentation
Yum! I can almost taste these cookies through the screen. We had a similar cookie when I was growing up. So tasty! Thanks again for another great post!
Oooo~ I can tell this is going to be an exciting month with all the wonderful Christmas treats! These sounds very intriguing!
nice cookies