{"id":144,"date":"2023-12-02T00:49:45","date_gmt":"2023-12-02T00:49:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/squarespace.joannawhiteart.com\/wp\/2023\/12\/02\/aldi-soft-pfeffernusse-cookies-winternacht-review\/"},"modified":"2025-03-28T15:11:41","modified_gmt":"2025-03-28T19:11:41","slug":"aldi-soft-pfeffernusse-cookies-winternacht-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snarklesauce.com\/blog\/2023\/12\/02\/aldi-soft-pfeffernusse-cookies-winternacht-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Aldi Pfeffern\u00fcsse Cookies (Winternacht) Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Author\u2019s note: I have no affiliation with <\/em>Aldi<\/em><\/a>, and I was not compensated in any way for this review. Anise is delicious. I said what I said.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

No, they don\u2019t taste like unmentionables.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before I tried these Pfeffern\u00fcsse cookies, I stumbled across a wide swath of Aldi fans on the internet complaining that these cookies tasted like\u2026well, like rude, unmentionable things that I won\u2019t repeat here. There was a deluge of fierce hatred directed at these innocent little baked goods. Naturally, I needed to investigate for myself!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m relieved to report the opposite. These cookies taste quite winsome. They do<\/em> have a strong anise spice flavor, so if you don\u2019t like anise (or licorice), you should probably steer clear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oddly, the package doesn\u2019t mention anise or any specific<\/em> spices, it just vaguely states \u201cspices\u201d on the label. There\u2019s a picture of a cinnamon stick on the front of the bag, which probably mislead all the disgruntled Aldi fans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It would probably<\/em> be beneficial for the anise-hating crowd to know ahead of time what is in here. Just sayin.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Fingers<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

According to Wikipedia<\/a>, Pfeffern\u00fcsse cookies historically were flavored with a mixture of spices including: \u201ccardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, black pepper, mace, and anise.\u201d We can only postulate what is actually in these Aldi renditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyway. If you DO like anise, you will probably be delighted! The spicy flavor is absolutely the best part of these petite treats, in my opinion. The smell is pungent and intoxicating. Anise does something special to my brain neurons, I’m certain of it. Ha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I was surprised to discover how soft these cookies are. I expected them to be hard and crunchy, as is a common tradition for Pfeffern\u00fcsse <\/a>or \u201cpeppernuts.\u201d The Aldi version look like hard domes in the product photo, but the cookies are actually super soft gingerbread inside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The icing isn\u2019t hard either, although it does form a smooth, thin crust on the exterior. These cookies are surprisingly tidy morsels and maintain an elegant, well-groomed look when plated. Potentially a great addition in a holiday charcuterie tray or dessert spread. (Keep reading for a party buffet tray idea.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Pssst. Do you also shop at Costco? Here’s an article I wrote with a summary of holiday desserts and treats available seasonally at Costco<\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I would describe the internal gingerbread texture as a fine crumb. It\u2019s tightly packed, but smooth. I wouldn\u2019t call it \u201cdry,\u201d but it is<\/em> somewhat crumbly. This is probably from the potato starch. The cookies don\u2019t have as much fluffiness or cake-like structure as the Aldi Soft Gingerbread Lebkuchen cookies (you can read my review of them here<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

These are fairly<\/em> sweet gingerbread nuggets. Not just the icing, but the actual gingerbread itself is quite<\/em> sweet. Unlike other spiced Winternacht cookies (such as Spekulatius \u2014 check out my review here<\/a>), sugar plays a much more prominent role here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I prefer \u201cless sweet\u201d desserts, so it was sweeter than I needed. But still tasty. According to the label, the primary sweetener is glucose-fructose syrup<\/a>. More about the ingredients later.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Aldi<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ingredients<\/strong> in Aldi Pfeffern\u00fcsse Gingerbread Cookies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The pork gelatin was a bit of a surprise \u2014 I don\u2019t typically check my cookies for pig products, but I have family members who don\u2019t eat pork, so this is perhaps an important piece of information to know in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the ingredients, from the label:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n