Old New Year’s cookies from Kurpie & Mazury
These traditional, crunchy cookies come from the Kurpie & Mazury regions of Poland and are baked to around New Year and Three Kings’ Day. They have a distinctive spicy flavor thanks to the addition of pepper and honey. I baked Fafernuchy according to tradition for the New Year, and I am sharing the recipe now, just after the Chinese New Year. Here is a tried-and-true recipe for these unique regional treats.
Ingredients:
- 500 g all-purpose flour
- 200 g grated carrot
- 2 eggs
- 150 g honey
- 50 g butter
- 50 g sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger
Instructions:
- Heat the wet ingredients: In a saucepan, melt the butter with honey and sugar. Heat over low heat until the sugar fully dissolves. Set aside to cool.
- Prepare the dough: Sift the flour into a bowl, then add the baking soda and spices (pepper, cinnamon, ginger). Mix the dry ingredients together.
- Combine the ingredients: Add the eggs, grated carrot, and the cooled honey mixture to the dry ingredients. Knead into a smooth, elastic dough. If necessary, add a little more flour.
- Shape the cookies: Roll the dough into logs about 1 cm in diameter, then cut them into small pieces about 2 cm long.
- Baking: Place the cookies on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Bake at 180°C (356°F) for about 15-20 minutes until golden and crispy.
- Cooling and serving: Allow the fafernuchy to cool completely after baking. They taste best after a few days when the flavors have blended together.
Tips:
- Fafernuchy are naturally hard but soften over time as they absorb moisture from the air.
- They can be stored in an airtight container for several weeks.
- Traditionally, they were served as a snack with tea or vodka.
Enjoy, and have a great year! Doesn’t matter the month is right now:)
Try also Pierniczki – Gingerbread Cookies, that are similar kind of cookies, not so sweet, spicy cookies, with ginger and black pepper.
If you liked my posts and tried my recipes, you can consider buying me a coffee. Or rather I should say: you can buy me a flour for Pierogi, cabbage for Gołąbki and beets for Barszcz:) This would help me to cook more and publish more delicious recipes for You. www.buymeacoffee.com/cookinpolish.
Comment on the post if you have questions, other ideas on the recipe or just enjoyed reading. I would be happy to see your thoughts on my posts! Do you remember Cheese Oponki from your childhood?
Polish food recipes, sentimental Polish cuisine, only tried and true recipes.
