A pepper nut is sweets
A pepper nut is a scoop of Speculaas ((rye) flour, sugar, speculaas herbs) that is usually eaten in the time around Sinterklaas. It is a confectionery that sprinkled through the room, the children can then seek and eat. A synonym is ' herb note ' Although this is not entirely justified. Usually one is meant to be a herb note if one has it over a pepper nut. A pepper nut is a square bite (tough-tough) and a herb nut is round (half round) and hard.
Https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94Yb9IAFhDQ