Pfeffernusse Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons anise extract 
• 1.5 teaspoons baking soda 
• 0.5 cup brown sugar 
• 2  eggs 
• 4 cups flour all-purpose
• 1.5 teaspoons ground cardamom 
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves 
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger 
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 
• 1 teaspoon ground pepper black
• 0.3 cup honey 
• 0.3 cup butter 
• 0.5 cup blackstrap molasses 
• 0.5 teaspoon salt 
• 0.3 cup shortening 
• 0.8 cup sugar white

Equipment

• bowl
• baking sheet
• sauce pan
• oven

Directions

1. Stir together the molasses, honey, shortening, and margarine in a saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir until creamy.
2. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Stir in the eggs.
3. Combine the flour, white sugar, brown sugar, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, anise, cinnamon, baking soda, pepper, and salt in a large bowl.
4. Add the molasses mixture and stir until thoroughly combines. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.
5. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
6. Roll the dough into acorn-sized balls. Arrange on baking sheets, spacing at least 1 inch apart.
7. Bake in preheated oven 10 to 15 minutes. Move to a rack to cool. Dust cooled cookies with confectioners' sugar.