Grandma Anna’s Spiced Italian Pepper Cookies
Grandma Anna’s Spiced Italian Pepper Cookies blend cocoa with a gentle kick of black pepper and warm baking spices, creating a tender, aromatic bite. Raisins and walnuts add chewy-crunchy contrast, while a citrusy orange glaze brightens each cookie. Perfect for holiday platters, coffee breaks, or gifting when you want something nostalgic yet a little unexpected.
- Prep25 mins
- Cook30 mins
- Serves60
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Grandma Anna’s Spiced Italian Pepper Cookies, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactPoor
- 33 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 4 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityPoor
- 27 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 68
- Heart Health
- 55
- Metabolic
- 17
- Digestive
- 33
- Inflammatory
- 15
- Performance
- 20
- General Wellness
- 1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- 2
Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, pepper, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg, and cloves for the cookies together into a large bowl.
- 3
Place the shortening in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high in 30-second intervals until melted. Pour it into the dry ingredients and mix with a spoon.
- 4
Add the milk, orange juice, orange zest, and vanilla; mix with a spoon to combine. Add the raisins, chopped walnuts, and finely chopped walnuts, then mix with your hands to combine. Roll the dough into small balls and set them 1/2 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- 5
Bake in batches in the preheated oven until the edges are golden, 15 to 18 minutes. Cool briefly on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely, about 15 minutes.
- 6
Prepare the glaze while the cookies cool. Place the confectioners' sugar in a bowl. Add the milk, orange juice, and orange zest and mix until smooth.
- 7
Brush the glaze onto the cooled cookies or spread it with a spoon. Decorate with sprinkles.
- Calories 118.27 kcal Moderate 6%
- Protein 2.11 g Low Source 4%
- Carbohydrate 21.37 g 8%
- Total Fat 2.82 g Low Source 4%
- Saturated Fat 0.23 g Low Source 1%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 0.16 mg Low Source 0%
- Sodium 10.89 mg Low Source 0%
- Dietary Fiber 1.24 g Low Source 4%
- Total Sugars 13.32 g --
- Added Sugars 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 9.12 mg Low Source 1%
- Iron 0.73 mg Low Source 4%
- Potassium 41.26 mg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin A 2.72 mcg Low Source 0%
- Vitamin C 0.57 mg Low Source 1%
- Vitamin D 0.05 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Citrus 🍊
- Tree Nuts 🌰
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Chocolate 🍫
- Food Dyes 🎨
About This Recipe
Grandma Anna's Spiced Italian Pepper Cookies is made with 17 ingredients and serves 60. It takes about 55 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include All Purpose Flour, Baking Soda, Black Pepper, and Butter Flavor Shortening. Each serving provides about 118.27 kcal.
Recipe Questions
- What is Grandma Anna’s Spiced Italian Pepper Cookies made of?
- The main ingredients are All-Purpose Flour, Baking Soda, Black Pepper, Butter-Flavor Shortening, Chopped Walnuts. The full list of 17 is above.
- How long does it take to make Grandma Anna’s Spiced Italian Pepper Cookies?
- About 55 mins in total: 25 mins to prepare and 30 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 118.27 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Grandma Anna’s Spiced Italian Pepper Cookies easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 17 ingredients and 7 steps.
- Is Grandma Anna’s Spiced Italian Pepper Cookies healthy?
- Grandma Anna’s Spiced Italian Pepper Cookies has an easyChef Pro health score of 27/100. Per serving, it provides 118.27 calories and 2.11 g of protein, or 4% of the Daily Value. It contains Citrus, Tree Nuts, Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Chocolate and Food Dyes, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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