German Pfefferneusse Christmas Cookies

Ingredients:
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 3 drops anise "OIL"
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon hot water
• 3 1/2 cusp AP flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/8 teaspoon white pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a mixer bowl with paddle attachment, cream together the shortening and the brown sugar until smooth. Mix in the molasses, anise oil and egg. Dissolve the baking soda in hot water and stir into the mixture.

Combine the flour, salt, cinnamon, ginger and white pepper. Blend into the molasses mixture until uniform. Knead for a minute until easy to work with. Shape dough into 1 inch balls and place 1 inch apart onto parchment paper lined cookie sheets.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until slightly browned on the bottom. Do not over bake or they will be very hard.