The good news is that we’ll certainly have a white Christmas. The bad news is I can’t find my patio…
We were hoping for a white Christmas, and that will be the case this year with cold weather predicted through the holiday and almost three feet of delicious new snow on the ground.
Snow day!
It was a perfect Snow Day, a time to put on holiday music and bake cookies, while occasionally checking outside on the accumulation. It was a slow day, the kind we hope for but seldom have even in this time of sheltering at home. I think it is that feeling that we really can’t go anywhere even if we wanted, so it is time to do what you want! I was sad to read a story that since so many school districts have become used to teaching remotely, there won’t be any more snow days for kids. How sad would that be? I guess the kids will now have to hope for power outages as well as snow.
My cookie-baking ritual always begins with brewing my little pot of stove-top espresso. I’ll use just a little for my ginger cookie recipe, and the rest is my own little treat. I need a treat too because my confession is that unless I am making them with a kid, I really don’t like baking cookies. I find it boring, I’m a bit impatient with it all, and it makes a big mess in my kitchen! I don’t usually mind a cooking mess, but all this flour!
Humble but full of flavor
The ginger cookie is humble. It is a variation on a cookie that I made when I was pregnant for my daughter; it was the only thing I could face in the morning, a nibble at a time! I’ve since added the candied ginger to enhance the ground and fresh. They are snappy and delicious, tons of flavor, and the ginger and cayenne makes them special. You can, of course, adjust the spices to your own taste, but I wouldn’t in a heartbeat. It’s a lot of spice, but my kids and now grandkids have eaten them since they were toddlers, and love them. They’ve become the family treat to make when someone is feeling down.
Ginger Spice Cookies
- 2 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp. ground ginger, yes that’s right
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. ground anise seeds
- ¼ tsp. ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp. fresh nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper, I like the latter
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup organic white sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp. espresso or dark brewed tea
- 1/4 cup dark molasses
- 2 tbsp. freshly grated ginger
- 2 tbsp. finely minced candied ginger (dust with flour first)
- Turbinado sugar for sprinkling
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Over a large bowl, sift together the flour, spices, baking soda, and salt. Set aside to wait for the rest of the gang.
In the bowl of your mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then add the coffee, molasses, and grated ginger. Slowly add the dry ingredients and minced ginger on low speed, just until mixed. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Using a cookie scoop, fashion them into little balls, and roll them in the fancy sugar. Place the cookies about two inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet, and flatten ever so slightly. Bake for 15-16 minutes in the preheated oven, check at 8 just to turn the pan around for even cooking. Don’t let them go too far or you will end up with ginger snaps!
Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before placing on a cooling rack.
I have no idea how long these last, but quite a while I suspect, if they are not eaten immediately!
Makes around 30 luscious cookies, or more, depending on the size of your scoop.
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Snow! We were looking for a good ginger cookie recipe! Thank you and have a blessed Christmas!
You are welcome. Enjoy the cookies and your holiday as well! ❤️
These look awesome! I love ginger especially in sweets and am always on the lookout for delicious ginger spice cookies and cakes. I can’t wait to try these!!
I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!
They look delicious. I see a lot of ingredients not found in most ginger cookie recipes. Will have to give it a try.
I hope you enjoy them as much as our family does Sharon! Happy New Year!
I love a good ginger cookie it does sound like a lot of spice but I will trust you on this one, Dorothy…:) x
I know it does sound like a lot, but ginger is one of those spices that dissipates somewhat when baked.
Best time to bake! Looks delicious
XX Angelica
https://eraenvogue.com
Thank you! It really is the best time to bake.
stunning! they look delicious!!
Thank you! I rather like their appearance! Definitely makes one want to pick them up and eat them!
We also had snow in NY, but it’s definitely not as beautiful as in Vermont.
Love the large amount of ginger in these cookies! 🙂
Thank you! Ginger is one of my favorite flavors, and I love these cookies although I rarely like sweets!
I like ginger so these sound wonderful. Love the shot of the table although I’m really glad we only had to move 18″ and not 30″. Stay well.
Well, it was enough so my husband did have to get the snow blower out and not just “drive through it” until it flattened out…
I love ginger cookies — I can practically smell the ones you baked! Humble appearance, as you say, but soooooo good. Beautiful snow for Christmas — ours is just about melted away already . . . 🙁 Thanks for the recipe and have a great holiday!
The house smelled wonderful yesterday!
Wow!! That snow is incredible!! I hope we get snow here in Oregon here ❤️
Finally shoveled out!
I knew immediately that your cookies wet yummy ginger bites! A strange kind of season this year with a big change in snow and rain.🍮🍂🍮🍂💕🫖
Yes, it has been strange with lots of rain in November and warm temperature. But I think we are now on track for a good old fashioned Vermont Christmas with snow and cold temperatures.
That’s a lot of snow! It really looks great in your garden. Enjoy the beautiful winter landscape and keep making delicious things in your kitchen 🙂 From Belgium, I wish you a very happy Christmas.
I love it when we finally get the snow; the landscape is much more interesting with a little frosting and promise of snowshoeing, etc. And it is so beautiful when the sun comes out! Happy and safe holidays to you and yours! ❤️
These cookies sound incredible, but then again, I’m a ginger fanatic. 😋🍂
Kindred ginger spirits! Now, speaking of spirits, there’s this lovely little ginger brandy…
Oh, I know all about ginger liqueur. Mmmm. 🍸
These cookies sound delicious, Dorothy. You wouldn’t want to bake a gingerbread mansion like I’m trying to do. So much mess in my kitchen.
You are a brave woman! I have’t made a gingerbread house, let alone a mansion, for two or three years, and I do remember what my kitchen looked like! I made it with my granddaughter though, so it was great fun.
Love, love, love the color and crunch of these yummies. I did nothing but sit quietly and enjoy a warm cup of tea when it was snowing.
A perfect day for a cup, or a pot, of beautifully brewed tea!
Oh my, that is a LOT of snow!! Perfect for baking cookies and I swear I can almost taste the cookies from your description! I heard that about no more snow days for kids, that really stinks! Snow days were always the best! And perfect for cookie baking!
Jenna
When my kids were little, I just loved it when they had a snow day! We would do special little things, they were allowed to stay in their jammies as long as they wanted, and we just immersed ourselves in a day with no set agenda!
merry festive season to you!
Thank you! May your days be filled with warmth and hope!
Wow! Look at all that snow ❄️ Beautiful! 🤩
Most of the time the humble recipes are the best 😉😋
They certainly are! And in our family, ginger and spice is everything nice!
I hope some of that snow has melted! I haven’t had a ginger cookie since 1994 when my grandma was alive……time to bake!
It’s like instant memories!
They look wonderful and we rarely get snow but we will be getting a very cold snap after Christmas that could be promising.. a lovely recipe.. Merry Christmas xx
Thank you so much! Where there is cold there is always the possibility of snow! Happy Christmas Eve, may your holiday be safe and full of blessings!
You too..hugsx
Nothing says Christmas like gingerbread and snow!
Essential ingredients!