A Southern Grace: ginger spice

October 19, 2012

ginger spice

Yum


Not to be confused with Geri Halliwell. Any Spice Girlsfans out there? No? I won't lie, I liked 'em for a hot second. Correction: I liked a few of their songs; I was never a great admirer of the girls themselves.*


Nope, I prefer my spices alphabetically arranged in my spice rack, ready to be used in baking. I've learned to accept the unrelenting cold of winter simply because it occurs at the same time as the emergence of heavy spice usage. You can't walk near a bakery in October without detecting the aroma of cinnamon, cloves, or ginger, and I love it.


These cookies are the quintessential batch of fall cookies. Not only do they have all the important spices of the season, but they also crackle like my skin upon contact with the cold, dry air. The scent alone is reason enough to make these, but their flavor is a nice bonus. The coating of sugar that dissolves on your tongue is simply the crowning touch.


*Oh, Spice Girls. You could've been great. What about you, friends? Did you care for them at all? Did you come up with your own Spice Girl name? I think I would've been Snarky Spice.

Spice Up Your Life Crinkle Cookies
Makes about 3 dozen
Ingredients:
  • 3/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus more for rolling
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, tightly packed
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Directions:
In a mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugars.
Add egg and beat well.
Beat in molasses.
Combine the flour, baking soda, salt and spices; gradually add to creamed mixture.
Refrigerate for one hour or until dough is easy to handle.
Roll dough into 1-inch balls, then roll in sugar.
Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes, until cookies are lightly browned and cracked on top.
Cool one minute before removing to wire racks.


Th-th-th-that's all, folks!

33 comments:

Alicia Foodycat said...

I love this kind of cookie - I made something similar last Christmas. The spices are so warming, it makes winter feel OK.

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

Ginger cookies are one of my favourites. They remind me of the holidays and cosy fireplaces.

Lynda said...

I love these Spice cookies Grace; they smell amazing as they bake, and melt in your mouth with the first bite. they are my favorite cookie this time of year.
As for the Spice girls-I'm too old- the Supremes ruled back in my young days-yea, that's been a few years back....:)

Stephanie said...

I love your site! You should post some of your food pics on FlauntMyFood.com it could help get you more readers.

Choc Chip Uru @ Go Bake Yourself said...

Mmm loving these cookies so warm and perfect :)

Cheers
Choc Chip Uru

Sue/the view from great island said...

I have to say ginger cookies are probably my favorite holiday cookie, I always kick off the season by making a batch. Love the crackle!

Joanne said...

I was pretty much spice girls-obsessed for a period of my life. It was not my finest hour. I do love the actual ginger SPICE though...the best. LOVE these cookies!

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

Delicious cookies! Ginger is such a wonderful spice.

Cheers,

Rosa

Not Quite Nigella said...

OK Grace, you know I now have that Spice Girls song in my head! "Tell me what you want, what you really, really want..." :P

Beth said...

I love ginger too, any time of year. Your cookies look fantastic. Based on my singing voice, I guess I would have been Tuneless Spice.

Barbara said...

One of my favorite fall cookies, Grace. And I love the way they crinkle in the oven.
(I'm NOT a Spice Girl fan, which I'm sure is no surprise to you. :) )

tamilyn said...

Mmmmm, I can almost smell them from here!

Katerina said...

I didn't care for spice girls either, I just liked couple of their songs as well. But I love, love cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. These cookies are simply perfect for me!

Mimi said...

To old for the Spice Girl but not to old for ginger spice cookies.
Mimi

Laura said...

Yum. Reminds me of what we called ginger snaps growing up. Top 5 cookie.

Nashville and Last Resort. You?

Blond Duck said...

I like the spice girls. And these cookies.

vianney said...

I love ginger, but not the spice girls .... they annoy me, LOL!! great cookies!

lisa is cooking said...

I'm loving the fall spices right now. All I want to do is bake things with cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. And, now I want to eat these cookies!

Marjie said...

My son brought home a recipe for giant soft ginger cookies a few years back. Periodically, he shames me into making them. They are not as pretty as yours, because I don't put the sugar on top.

scrambledhenfruit said...

I was never a fan of the spice girls, but I'm a big fan of spice cookies. These are gorgeous! :)

Jeff @ Cheeseburger said...

One thing I look forward on winter too is the spice heavy baking.

I Wilkerson said...

These are absolutely one of my favorite cookies!

Anonymous said...

Cookies look delish...but...who won the previous give a way?

Debbie

dkal85@aol.com

Faith said...

Oh yum! The rest of the year chocolate chip cookies are my favorite, but during fall, hands-down molasses crinkles are my #1! LOVE them!

Erica said...

My son loves ginger cookies! printing the recipe for the holidays!

Pam said...

I am SO making these babies. YUM!

Blond Duck said...

Food day sounds great to me!

Angie's Recipes said...

These are definitely a must-bake during the holiday season.

Bunny said...

Now that's my kinda cookie Grace, it just screams Fall!

Amy (Savory Moments) said...

These cookies look so perfect for a treat with a cup of black tea on a crisp autumn day. They look delicious!

Savor The Baking said...

These cookies look delicious and they have a lot of my favorite spices. I love the smell of nutmeg and cinnamon mixed together. 8-)

Carolyn Jung said...

I love, love, LOVE ginger cookies. And these look to have the perfect texture, too -- all chewy in the middle. ;)

Savor The Baking said...

I have a Christmas cookie swap to attend next month, and these cookies might make an appearance. 8-)