Traditional Pepper Cookies From Croatia

Pepper cookies (or paprenjaci in Croatian) have been around the north of Croatia ever since the nineteenth century (some even say the thirteenth!). They are typically made for Christmas and are often given as edible souvenirs. The cookies are soft and chewy with an intoxicating smell of cinnamon and nutmeg; however, they deliver an unexpected spicy note thanks to their peppery nature. This recipe has been adapted from a traditional Croatian cookbook that was first published in Zagreb in 1876, and has been used in my family for generations.