Peppernuts

The recipe I used is:

5 1/2 C flour
1 1/2 c cornstarch
6 t baking powder
1 1/2 t salt
1 t black pepper
1 1/2 t ground cardamom
1 1/2 t ground cinnamon
3/4 t ground cloves
3 c butter or margarine
3/4 t vanilla extract
3 c sugar
3/4 c cream or canned milk
2 c finely chopped blanched almonds (I omitted these)

Blend the first 8 ingredients together and set aside.

Cream butter with extract. Gradually add sugar, beating till light and fluffy after each addition.

Alternately add dry ingredients in fourths and cream in thirds to creamed mixture; mixing until well blended. Stir in almonds. Chill dough. ( If you chill for too long it gets flaky and makes it hard to work with...so I would say no longer than an hour for chilling.)

Shape into small balls about 3/4 in in diameter or roll dough into long skinny snakes and cut into 1/2 in pieces. (I did the later.) Place 1 in apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 for 9 min or until golden brown. Transfer to cooling racks or dish towel.