Hildegard’s Nerve Cookies

In the 12th century, Hildegard of Bingen, abbess, mystic, scholar, and healer, wove together music, medicine, and theology into a vision of harmony between body, spirit, and the natural world. She believed plants were gifts meant to restore balance and strengthen the human spirit. Among her many writings was a recipe she called Nerve Cookies, meant as nourishment for clarity of thought, steadiness of nerves, and the deeper harmony between mind and body.

Baked with warming spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, and clove, her cookies were said to lift the mood, sharpen the senses, and strengthen the spirit. They carry the old-world wisdom that food itself can be medicine when approached with intention.

Ingredients

2.5 cups spelt (or whole wheat) flour

1/3 cup butter, softened

1/3 cup brown sugar or honey (to taste)

1/2 cup ground almonds

4 tsp nutmeg

4 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ground cloves

1 egg

1 dash salt

Instructions

Cut the butter into pieces and combine with the flour and almonds, mixing together by hand.
In a separate bowl, whisk the egg with the salt and spices, then blend into the flour mixture. Knead into a smooth dough.
Cover and refrigerate for one hour.
Roll out the dough to about ½ cm thick and cut into shapes.
Bake at 350°F for 10–15 minutes, until just golden.

Notes

Hildegard advised enjoying no more than five cookies a day, with two to three for children or expectant mothers. Their sweetness can be adjusted with a honey glaze if you prefer. Stored in a jar, they will keep for weeks, or longer if frozen.

Each bite is a link to centuries of wisdom that saw no separation between body and soul, a reminder that even simple cookies can be a ritual for health, clarity, and joy.