Mennonite Black Pepper Cookies

Total Time: 24 hrs 5 mins Preparation Time: 24 hrs Cook Time: 5 mins

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup dark corn syrup
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vinegar
• 1 slightly beaten egg
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed anise seeds (optional) or 1 teaspoon anise extract (optional)
• ground cinnamon (this is in addition to the 1/2 teaspoon above, for sprinkling tops)

Recipe

• 1 melt butter or margarine in medium saucepan.
• 2 add sugar, syrup, and vinegar.
• 3 bring mixture just to boiling.
• 4 immediately remove pan from heat; cool to room temperature.
• 5 stir in egg.
• 6 combine the flour, baking soda, ginger, the 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, cloves, pepper and anise seed in a medium bowl: (note if using anise extract instead of seed add it to the cooled butter/sugar mixture from the first step instead) stir into egg mixture; mix well to form dough.
• 7 cover and refrigerate overnight for flavors to blend and so that dough is firm enough to roll.
• 8 divide dough into four portions.
• 9 keep portions chilled until ready to roll.
• 10 on lightly floured surface roll one portion very thin (less than 1/8 inch thick).
• 11 cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters.
• 12 place on a greased cookie sheet.
• 13 sprinkle with ground cinnamon.
• 14 bake in a 375ºf oven for 4 to 5 minutes or until barely brown around the edges.
• 15 immediately transfer cookies to a wire rack; cool.
• 16 repeat with remaining portions of dough.
• 17 store in covered tins.