Absolute Perfection Ginger Spice Cookies Recipes

GINGER SPICE COOKIES

Steps:

• Puree the ginger in a mini food processor with 2 tablespoons water. Squeeze and strain juice through cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer. Discard the ginger pulp. Reserve the juice.
• Sift the flour, baking soda, salt and spices into a medium bowl, then whisk in the pepper; set aside.
• Cream the butter and sugar with a handheld mixer until light and fluffy, about 1 1/2 minutes. Add the molasses and ginger juice and beat until evenly incorporated, about 2 minutes. (Stir together with a spatula if needed.) Gradually blend the dry ingredients on low speed into the butter mixture until you have a crumbly mixture. Bring the dough together by hand pressing and kneading lightly until moist, but not tacky. Divide into 2 equal portions, press into disks about 1/2-inch thick. Wrap in plastic and chill for at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Position racks evenly in the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Dust the dough and a work surface with flour. Roll the dough about 1/4 inch thick. Cut out cookies into desired shapes. Transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake until the cookies are a rich tawny brown, about 18 to 20 minutes. Cool on a rack.
• For decorating: Whisk the water and egg white powder in a medium bowl until foamy and smooth. Gradually whisk in the confectioners' sugar to make a smooth icing. For multiple colors divide the icing into batches and add a food coloring as desired. Spread or pipe the icing onto the cookies. Finish with sprinkles, or candies. Let rest on a rack until the icing sets, about 30 minutes.

CHEWY GINGER COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Sift the flour, ground ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and allspice together into a mixing bowl; stir.
• Beat sugar and butter with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth and creamy. Beat egg and molasses into creamed butter mixture. Gradually stir flour mixture into butter mixture until just coming together into a batter. Gently fold crystallized ginger through the batter.
• Roll rounded teaspoon-sized amounts of dough into small balls between your hands and place onto ungreased baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
• Bake in preheated oven until the tops are rounded and slightly cracked, about 10 minutes. Cool cookies on baking sheets for 1 minute before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

SPICY GINGER COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Whisk brown sugar, shortening, butter, molasses, eggs, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, salt, cloves, and cayenne pepper together in a large bowl until glossy; fold in flour until dough is just-combined.
• Pour coarse sugar into a shallow bowl. Roll dough into 48 balls. Roll balls in sugar and place 2-inches apart on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the tops of the cookies crack, about 9 minutes.

GINGER SPICE COOKIES

Steps:

• Combine first 6 ingredients in medium bowl; whisk to blend. Mix in crystallized ginger. Using electric mixer, beat brown sugar, butter in large bowl until fluffy. Add egg and molasses and beat until blended. Add flour mixture and mix just until blended. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350°F Lightly butter 2 baking sheets, or line with parchment paper. Spoon sugar in thick layer onto small plate. Using wet hands, form dough into 1 1/4-inch balls; roll in sugar to coat completely. Place balls on prepared sheets, spacing 2 inches apart.
• Bake cookies until cracked on top but still soft to touch, about 12 minutes. Cool on sheets 1 minute. Carefully transfer to racks and cool. (Can be made 5 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.)
• Makes about 30.
• * The original recipe called for light molasses and dark brown sugar. I found that regular molasses and light brown sugar worked great. The original recipe also called for 1/4 cup shortening and 1/4 cup butter. I followed the suggestions to omit the shortening and to use 1/2 cup of butter and it also worked out great.

BIG SOFT GINGER COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and molasses. Combine the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well. , Roll into 1-1/2-in. balls, then roll in sugar. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° until puffy and lightly browned, 10-12 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.

THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA'S ULTIMATE GINGER COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper.
• Sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and salt and then combine the mixture with your hands.
• Beat the brown sugar, oil, and molasses on medium speed for 5 minutes. Turn the speed to low speed, add the egg, and beat for 1 minute. Scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula and beat for 1 more minute.
• With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients, then mix on medium speed for 2 minutes.
• Add crystallized ginger and mix until combined.
• Scoop the dough with 2 spoons or a small ice cream scoop. With your hands, roll each cookie into a 1 3/4-inch ball and then flatten them lightly with your fingers.
• Press both sides of each cookie in granulated sugar and place on sheet pans.
• Bake for exactly 13 minutes. The cookies will be cracked on the top and soft inside.
• Let the cookies cool for a minute or two and the transfer to wire racks to cool completely.