Grandma Anna's Italian Pepper Cookies

Name: Grandma Anna's Italian Pepper Cookies
Total time: 70
Yield: 60
Ingredients: 4 cups all-purpose flour; 2 cups white sugar; ¼ cup cocoa powder; 1 teaspoon ground black pepper; ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon; ½ teaspoon baking soda; ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg; ¼ teaspoon ground cloves; 1 cup shortening; 1 cup milk; ¼ cup orange juice; 1 teaspoon grated orange zest; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 cup raisins; ½ cup chopped walnuts; ¼ cup finely chopped walnuts; ¾ cup confectioners' sugar; 2 tablespoons milk; 1 tablespoon orange juice; 1 teaspoon grated orange zest; 2 tablespoons multi-colored sprinkles, or to taste (Optional)

Recipe by DaniDee from allrecipes.com

Dessert 1 Hr. 10 Mins.

Ingredients

60 servings

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4 cups all-purpose flour
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2 cups white sugar
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¼ cup cocoa powder
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1 teaspoon ground black pepper
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½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
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½ teaspoon baking soda
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¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
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¼ teaspoon ground cloves
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1 cup shortening
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1 cup milk
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¼ cup orange juice

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1 teaspoon grated orange zest
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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1 cup raisins
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½ cup chopped walnuts
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¼ cup finely chopped walnuts
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¾ cup confectioners' sugar
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2 tablespoons milk
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1 tablespoon orange juice
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1 teaspoon grated orange zest
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2 tablespoons multi-colored sprinkles, or to taste (Optional)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Sift flour, sugar, cocoa powder, pepper, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg, and cloves for cookies together into a large bowl.
Place shortening in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high in 30-second increments until melted. Pour into dry ingredients and mix with a spoon.
Add milk, orange juice, orange zest, and vanilla; mix with a spoon to combine. Add raisins, chopped walnuts, and finely chopped walnuts and mix with your hands to combine. Roll dough into small balls and set 1/2 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.
Bake in batches in the preheated oven until edges are golden, 15 to 18 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet briefly before removing to a wire rack to cool completely, about 15 minutes.
Prepare glaze while cookies cool. Place confectioners' sugar in a bowl. Add milk, orange juice, and orange zest and mix until smooth.
Brush glaze onto cooled cookies or spread with a spoon. Decorate with sprinkles.