Chocolate Pepper Cookies

These spicy, dense, and chocolatey cookies are made with walnuts and raisins.

These Sicilian Christmas cookies are also commonly called meatball cookies. Mary Ann Esposito

Makes about 4 dozen cookies

• 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/4 cup baking cocoa
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 12 tablespoons vegetable shortening
• 1 cup toasted and chopped walnuts
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup milk, or as needed

For the glaze

• 2 cups or more confectioners’ sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Milk as needed
• Colored sprinkles

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

Sift all the dry ingredients together into a large bowl. Work in the
shortening with your hands until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Add the nuts and raisins and mix well with your hands until well
blended. Add enough of the milk to form a dough.