Happy Holidays everyone!! Things have been a bit quiet over here, since I’ve been struggling with the flu recently. Thankfully, I’m over the worst of it now (so the doctor says!).
My last Holiday recipe for the year is this one for Triple Ginger Cookies, and oh MAN are they good. Like my Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies (noticing a theme here?), I’ve been making these ginger cookies for many years now. The dry ingredients are laced with ground ginger, the wet ingredients with fresh ginger, and the finished dough is studded with a sizable amount of crystallized ginger. Star anise, lemon zest and blackstrap molasses all pair beautifully with ginger, creating warming depth of flavor. These glittering little nuggets are crispy on the outside, and tender and caky on the inside. Each bite packs a pleasant burn (from the crystallized ginger) that will add intrigue to any Holiday cookie tin. Continue reading for the recipe!
Two things to consider:
- These are not gingersnaps. The texture is more on the caky side. So if you’re looking for a cookie with more snap, try this one.
- If you are sensitive to ginger’s heat, I would recommend cutting back on the crystallized ginger here (drop down to 1/2 cup).
Triple Ginger Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon finely ground star anise
- 4 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup blackstrap molasses (just unsulphured would work here too)
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons peeled and grated fresh ginger
- 1 egg, well beaten
- 3/4 cup minced crystallized ginger
- Zest of 2 lemons
- About 1/2 cup of turbinado sugar
Instructions
- Preheat an oven to 350°F, and set an oven rack in the middle position. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, star anise, ground ginger, and salt.
- Warm butter in medium saucepan until just barely melted. Stir in molasses, sugar, and fresh ginger. The mixture should be warm, but not hot at this point. If it is hot to touch let it cool a bit. Whisk in the beaten egg, then add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients along the crystallized ginger and lemon zest. Stir until just combined.
- Spread turbinado sugar out on a plate. Using your hands, roll a level tablespoon of cookie dough into a ball, then place onto the plate with the sugar. Roll dough ball around in the sugar until it's completely coated. Repeat with remaining dough. Place dough balls on the parchment-lined baking sheets at least 1-inch apart. Working in batches (I always do 1 sheet at a time), bake until cookies are puffed, slightly darker and just starting to crack (10 - 12 minutes). Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool.
Brian @ A Thought For Food says
That picture is awesome! Merry Christmas to you and Jorge!
Also, I’m a huge fan of ginger cookies and I love that you put star anise in them! Never thought to do that but I am totally trying it.
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Brian!! Star anise is a fun addition. Really compliments the ginger well.
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
I love the picture of you and Jorge and the pups! And so sorry to hear you’ve been sick with the flu! Ginger is a natural anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, all of that anti stuff, so just keep eating as many cookies as you want 🙂 They look awesome! Happy Holidays to you guys and we need to put something on the calendar for January!
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Averie!! And I wasn’t aware that ginger had all those healthy properties. Perhaps these cooks did help me get over the flu ;). Happy New Year and yes, let’s definitely plan something for 2016.
Cakespy says
I Love ginger, so these look like a triple play of deliciousness for me. They are beautiful. Thank you for sharing!
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks!!! I too am a huuuuuuge ginger fan.
Marye says
I love spicy cookies! These sound so good!
heather @french press says
LOVE the family photo! hopefully you got over your flu before Christmas. Ginger cookies are my favorite, especially in the winter
Kristina says
gorgeous photos, Brandon! and I love the one of you guys with the pups – so sweet!
ginger cookies are one of our favorites – definitely making your recipe soon!
Kristen says
Wow! Those cookies sound like they pack a great ginger punch. I really like crystallized ginger in baked goods, so I bet they were really good!
Dee Dee (My Midlife Kitchen) says
First of all, your little family is adorable. 🙂 Second, this recipe is AWESOME! I cannot wait to make it! And I am a big proponent of not only seeing cookies like this around the holidays. I love (love, love) ginger in sweet items, so I think I’ll take a stand and make them year-round now! What a great recipe, Brandon!
Emily says
Happy Holidays! These cookies look fabulous, I’ve never had “cake-like” ginger cookies before and can’t wait to try!