Peppernuts

Peppernuts are a traditional Mennonite Christmas cookie....crispy, spicy and usually anise flavoured. It seems everyone's grandma had a slightly different version...but they are a tiny nut-sized cookie...and often have black pepper listed among the ingredients. The baking of peppernuts is one tradition that is worth continuing. And...let me warn you...they are addictive!

Peppernuts 

• 1 cup / 250 ml butter
• 1 cup / 250 ml brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup / 250 ml syrup
• 1/2 cup / 125 buttermilk
• 2 tsp. / 10 ml baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. / 2ml cloves
• 1/2 tsp. / 2 ml cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. / 2 ml ginger
• 1/2 tsp. / 2 ml nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp. / 1 ml black pepper
• 1/2 tsp. / 2 ml ground anise
• 5 1/2 cups flour, divided

1.  Cream margarine and brown sugar; add eggs & mix well.
2. Add syrup and buttermilk to which the baking soda has been added. (* Roger's Golden syrup is my syrup of choice, but I think it's a Canadian syrup.)
3. Mix together 4 1/2 cups / 1 L flour and all the spices; then add to butter mixture.
4. Continue adding flour until a soft, workable dough is formed.
5. Refrigerate dough.
6. When cold, roll dough into 1/2 inch ropes...place on cookie sheet and chill or freeze until ready to bake.
7. With a sharp knife, cut rope into 1/3 inch slices and place on cookie sheets.
8. Bake at 350 degrees for about 8 minutes.