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Ginger Spice Cookies

When I realized the recipe called for melted butter, I opted to mix everything in the melting pan so I wouldn't have to clean an extra bowl.  Not that I'm afraid of getting every pan in the kitchen dirty, mind you, but I'll only do it when it's strictly required.  Recipe adapted from Better Homes and Gardens, October 2013 issue. Makes 3 dozen cookies.
Course: Dessert
Author: Suzanne Cowden

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 3 tablespoons peeled and grated fresh ginger
  • 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup coarse sugar (such as turbinado)

Instructions

  • Melt butter in a medium sauce pan.  Remove from heat and stir in brown sugar, granulated sugar, molasses, and grated ginger.  Set aside to cool slightly.
  • Meanwhile, combine flour, baking soda, ground ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cardamom, cloves, and salt.  Whisk well and set aside.
  • Add egg to the butter mixture, stirring well to combine.   Add the flour mixture and stir to combine.  Cover the pot and put it in the refrigerator to chill for at least an hour (the dough will be slightly sticky still after an hour;  if you don't like getting your hands sticky, chill for a longer period).
  • Fill a small shallow bowl with coarse sugar.  Using a tablespoon or small spoon, scoop out a ball of dough.  Roll the dough between your palms to form a 1-inch ball.  Roll the ball in the sugar, coating evenly, and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Continue with remaining dough, spacing balls about 2 inches apart.
  • In an oven preheated to 350° F, bake for 10 minutes, rotating the baking sheets after 5 minutes.  Carefully transfer cookies to wire racks to cool.
  • If desired, sandwich a scoop of vanilla ice cream between two cookies before eating.