Getting back into the swing of the 2012 Cookie Challenge after some time off, the kitchens of Full Moon Cuisine looked internationally for inspiration. What they found was a cookie from Norway that involved spices, creating a cookie with sweetness and a gentle heat. Curious, we gave it our best. The result is a cookie that will please any diner after a meal. Here's what you'll need:

- 2 sticks of butter plus 1 tbsp (at room temp)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 3 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp black pepper (fresh ground if you can)
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
- Pinch of salt

Note: This recipe will make approximately 3 dozen cookies.

To begin, mix together your flour, the spices (salt, cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper), and the baking soda and powder in a bowl, then set aside. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the butter and sugar. Afterward, add in the heavy cream (this recipe uses no eggs!). Once thoroughly mixed, add in your dry ingredients in thirds until fully combined. The dough may seem a bit dry, so add in water (1 tsp at a time, up to 2 tsp) until it is wet enough to hold together.

Spread out a sheet of parchment paper on your counter and turn the dough out onto it, forming it into a ball. Place a second sheet of parchment paper over the dough and use a rolling pin to roll the dough out to approximately 1/4" in thickness. Use a 2 1/2" cookie cutter (or any circular-shaped item like the lid from a cooking spray bottle), and cut out cookies from the dough. Transfer these onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and park in your fridge for at least one hour.

Near the end of the hour, preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. When ready, bake your cookies for approximately 7 minutes, rotating halfway through. Afterward, let them rest on the warm baking sheet for a few minutes, before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

While not a usual combination for most people when they think of cookies, this mixture of sweetness and spices will certainly please your diners. And since one batch makes so many, you'll be sure to have plenty to go around. To help keep this spicy-sweet combination ready to be enjoyed, the kitchen will be staying open late tonight. Care to place an order?

Want to know what this challenge is all about? Check out my journal and feel free to send in recipes for cookies! http://www.furaffinity.net/journal/3096204/