Recipe(tried): Pfeffernuss

My husband loves peppernuts and I found these recipes from the St. Norbert's Catholic Church Cookbook, Roxbury, Wisconsin. A very strong german village with lots of great cooks, including my grandmother.
PEPPER NUTS
Cream:
1 1/4 C Brown Sugar
1 C Shortening
Add:
2 beaten eggs
Add in:
3 tsp water
3 tsp vinegar
Combine in separate bowl:
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 tsp powdered anise
4 C flour
Stir into creamed mixture
Chill for about 1 hour. I roll them into a long tubes then cut into little cookies using table knife. Bake at 350F for about 15 minutes to golden brown.

The second one if very similar
PEPPER NUTS (our favorite - great tasting)
Cream:
2 C Sugar
1 C Syrup (Karo)
1 C Shortening
Add:
2 beaten eggs
Mix in:
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cloves
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp soda dissolved in 1/4 C boiling water
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp powdered anise
1 tsp vanilla
1 C finely chopped nuts (optional)
8 C flour
Chill then roll them into a long snake/tubes wrap in wax paper and chill again until ready to bake (will keep in fridge for a few days) Cut into little cookies using table knife. Bake at 375F for about 10 - 15 minutes to light brown.