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| Place of origin | Croatia |
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| Main ingredients | Butter,sugar syrup orhoney,eggs,walnuts orhazelnuts,black pepper, spices |
Paprenjak[pronunciation?] are a traditionalbiscuit made inCroatia. This peculiar biscuit contains a unique mix ofhoney andblack pepper. The main ingredients are sugar syrup or honey, butter or fat, eggs, nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts), pepper and various spices (clove, cinnamon, nutmeg). Apart from the ingredients, Paprenjak is unique with its mould-pressed motifs used to decorate the biscuit. (see picture)
The Croatian authorAugust Šenoa featured the biscuit in his novel "Goldsmith's gold" published in 1871:
The origins of paprenjak are unclear but they are known to have existed in the 16th century during the Renaissance. Traditionally, in older times, Croatian people made paprenjak throughout the year, and more lately it is a family tradition in many homes to make paprenjak forChristmas – an event in which the whole family would come together, mothers and grandmothers to make the dough and children to stamp out the paprenjak shapes for Christmas.
Traditionally, a square paprenjak is decorated with wooden press, embossing a pattern on the biscuit. These patterns were traditionally pagan and Christian symbols, such as fish, wheat or sun. Today paprenjak today takes on many shapes, such as gingerbread men, stars, trees, etc.
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