Vegan Pfeffernüsse – Connoisseurus Veg

19 de December de 2025

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These vegan pfeffernüsse cookies are tender and chewy with heat spices, deep molasses taste, and a fragile snowy coating of powdered sugar. They’re irresistibly festive and ideal for vacation baking!

Plate of Vegan Pfeffernüsse cookies with cinnamon sticks and star anise.

These are the vacation cookies I did not understand I wanted in my life. In truth, I might by no means heard of them till I had a reader request a recipe for vegan pfeffernüsse, however now they’re an absolute favourite. They actually have all of it! First, that impossible to resist combo of heat spices and molasses. When you’re a fan of my vegan gingerbread cookies or vegan ginger molasses cookies, pfeffernüsse can be proper up your alley! They’ve all of the scrumptious spices you like, plus just a few additional for good measure. They’re additionally moist, completely chewy, and coated in powdered sugar like my vegan crinkle cookies and vegan snowball cookies.

Bounce to:

Pfeffernüsse are a conventional German cookie, however there’s additionally a Dutch model (extra on that within the variations part beneath). They’re straightforward to make and even type of enjoyable — rolling them in powdered sugar is a superb vacation exercise for the kiddos! And but they style like one thing that might solely be made with the love and dedication of Santa’s elves.

Substances You may Want

Under you will discover a listing of elements on this recipe, with notes and substitutions. Scroll all the way in which to the underside of the publish to see the complete recipe, together with the quantity of every ingredient.

Brown sugar. Search for natural brown sugar, as typical sugar is commonly processed with bone char. I choose darkish brown sugar for this recipe, however mild works simply effective, too!
Vegan butter. Most grocery shops will carry this within the refrigerated part, close to the common butter. Earth Steadiness, Soften, and Miyoko’s are just a few manufacturers to search for.
Maple syrup.
Molasses. We’re utilizing unsulfured molasses, which is the commonest selection used for baking. Search for manufacturers like Brer Rabbit and Grandma’s. I do not suggest utilizing blackstrap or strong molasses.
Non-dairy milk. Soy milk, almond milk, oat milk, or no matter selection you usually use for consuming is ok. Need assistance selecting? My information to non-dairy milk will help!
Floor flaxseed. You may be mixing this with the milk to create a flax egg, considered one of my favourite vegan egg substitutes for baking.
Flour. I’ve solely made this recipe with all-purpose wheat flour, so I am unable to assure outcomes with some other varieties.
Spices. We’re utilizing lots right here! You may want floor cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, and black pepper.
Baking soda.
Salt.
Anise extract. You solely want a tiny little bit of this, nevertheless it’ll add a lot taste!
Powdered sugar. Identical to the brown sugar, this ought to be natural.

How They’re Made

The next is an in depth photograph tutorial on easy methods to make this dish. Scroll all the way in which down if you would like to skip proper to the recipe!

Mixture of melted vegan butter, brown sugar, molasses, and maple syrup in a saucepan with a wooden spoon.

Step 1: Mix the moist elements. Warmth up the brown sugar, vegan butter, maple syrup, and molasses in a small saucepan, stirring continually, simply till the sugar and butter soften. Let it cool.

Mixture of almond milk and ground flaxseed in a bowl with a spoon.

Step 2: Make the flax egg. Stir your non-dairy milk and floor flaxseed collectively in a small bowl. Let the combination sit for a couple of minutes. The flax will begin to take in the milk and gel.

Dry ingredients for cookie dough in a mixing bowl with a wire whisk.

Step 3: Mix the dry elements. Whereas the flax combination sits, whisk the flour, spices, baking soda, and salt collectively in a big bowl.

Wet ingredients for Vegan Pfeffernüsse in a saucepan with flax egg whisked in.

Step 4: Add flax egg to moist elements. As soon as the moist combination has cooled, whisk the flax egg in.

Vegan Pfeffernüsse dough in a mixing bowl with a wooden spoon.

Steps 5 & 6: Combine and chill the dough. Add the moist ingredient combination to the dry ingredient combination, then stir all the pieces collectively. The dough can be very sticky! Stick it into the fridge to relax for 2 hours.

Vegan Pfeffernüsse dough balls on a baking sheet.

Steps 7-9: Form and bake. Roll the dough into balls and organize them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake the cookies till they’re puffy and really feel set. Do not allow them to begin to brown — pfeffernüsse are very easy to overbake.

White wooden surface set with a plate of Vegan Pfeffernüsse, pine cones, and winter berries.

Steps 10 & 11. Cool and roll. Let the cookies cool fully, then coat them calmly in powdered sugar. They’re now able to take pleasure in!

Tip: The tops of your cookies might sink barely as they cool — completely regular! Simply use powdered sugar to fill in any dips.

Variations

Iced pfeffernüsse. Dutch variations are made with icing. As a substitute of coating your cookies in powdered sugar, make a easy icing by mixing 2 cups of powdered sugar with 3 to 4 tablespoons of non-dairy milk. Coat your complete outer floor of every cookie with the icing.
Chocolate coating. Skip the powdered sugar and dip your cookies in melted chocolate.
Almond pfeffernüsse. Exchange the anise extract with a half teaspoon of almond extract.

Often Requested Questions

Can these cookies be made gluten-free?

I have not tried making a gluten-free model, however I believe an all-purpose gluten-free flour mix would most likely work. Please let me know the way it works out within the feedback if you happen to attempt it!

How lengthy will these cookies hold and the way ought to I retailer them?

They’re going to hold in an hermetic container at room temperature for a couple of week. You may as well freeze them, however I like to recommend doing so earlier than coating them with powdered sugar, if potential. If they’re already coated, no biggie, however a number of the coating may dissolve throughout thawing (straightforward repair — simply add extra powdered sugar). Freeze them in an hermetic container or freezer bag for as much as three months.

Is chilling the dough actually crucial?

It positive is! Pfeffernüsse dough may be very sticky and can be difficult to deal with earlier than chilling. You may additionally danger your cookies spreading an excessive amount of if you happen to skip chilling.

Extra Vegan Vacation Cookies

Like this recipe? In that case, please cease again and go away me a overview and score beneath if you happen to attempt it! Additionally make sure to comply with me on Fb, Pinterest or Instagram, or subscribe to my e-newsletter for extra recipes like this one!

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