Ginger Snaps

It is well known that ginger is loaded with antioxidants, compounds that prevent stress and damage to your body’s DNA. And of course, we all know that cookies naturally soothe the soul.
It follows, therefore, that a really good Ginger Snap, filled as it is with THREE kinds of ginger as well as luscious spices and molasses and other good things MUST be the very healthiest way to approach the holidays.

Ginger Snaps

  • Servings: 8 dozen
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4-1/2 cups (538 g) all-purpose flour
3 tsp baking soda
2 T ground ginger
1 tsp ground cardamom
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt
1-7/8 cups (400 g) dark brown sugar
1-1/4 cup or 2-1/2 sticks (284 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
6 oz (170 g) molasses (by weight)
2 large eggs, room temperature
4 tsp finely grated fresh ginger
1-1/8 cup (226 g) finely chopped candied ginger

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cardamom, ground cloves and salt. Set aside.

Place the brown sugar and butter into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on low speed until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes.

Add the molasses, egg and fresh ginger and beat on medium for one minute. Add the candied ginger and using a rubber spatula, stir to combine. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir until well combined.

With a 2-tsp sized scoop, drop the dough onto a parchment lined half sheet pan approximately 2 inches apart. (12 per sheet).

Bake on the middle rack for 12 minutes for slightly chewy cookies or 15 minutes for more crisp cookies. (If making snaps for a ginger snap pie crust, go with the 15-minute baking time).

Rotate the pan halfway through the bake. Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to stay on the sheet pan for a minute before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with the rest of the dough.

You can also shape the dough into a tube, wrap tightly with plastic wrap, and freeze. Then it’s easy to slice and bake when you’re ready. Bake directly from the freezer as above.

Adapted from a recipe by my food guru, Alton Brown

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