Happy Holidays everyone! These are the best cookies to give the Holiday Season spirit and smell to your homes. All the best…
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks or 180gr) butter, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup molasses
1 large egg
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
3 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tbsp ground ginger
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp kosher salt
2″ piece fresh ginger, grated (optional)
Zest of 1 orange (optional)
1/2 tsp finely ground black pepper (optional)
- In a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat butter, brown sugar, and molasses until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg and vanilla and beat until combined.
- In a medium bowl, whisk flour, spices, baking soda, and salt until combined. With the mixer on low, gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, as well as fresh ginger, orange zest, and black pepper (if using), until dough just comes together. (Do not overmix!)
- Divide dough in half and create two discs. Wrap each in plastic wrap and chill until firm, about 2 to 3 hours. (Alternatively, divide dough in half and roll each piece of dough between two pieces of parchment to 1/4″ or 6mm thick. Chill until firm. I will try this method next time, sounds much better and simpler.)
- Preheat oven to 350°F / 175°C and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Place one disc of dough on a lightly floured surface and roll until 1/4″ or 6mm thick. (Alternatively, peel off both sheets of parchment from dough, then replace one sheet of parchment back underneath dough.) Cut out with your preferred cookie cutters and transfer to baking sheets.
- Bake until slightly puffed and set, 9 to 10 minutes, depending on the size of your cookie cutters. Let cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Repeat with remaining disc of dough. Decorate with icing and sprinkles as desired.
Sugar Cookie Icing, for decorating (I didn’t do the icing, but sharing the recipe)
3 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup milk, plus more for thinning
1/4 tsp almond (or pure vanilla) extract
- In a medium bowl stir together powdered sugar, corn syrup, milk, and almond extract. Add milk a teaspoon at a time to thin, if necessary.
Source: Delish
