Monday, December 14, 2015

Gingersnaps


Once upon a time, I used to bake a lot of Christmas cookies. These days I think I'm doing well if I make four or five different kinds. One of my personal traditions is to try a new (to me) cookie recipe every year. I'm posting that cookie recipe for Christmas week because even people who don't do a lot of entertaining often bake a batch of cookies.

I actually made two batches of new to me cookies this year. The first were good, but they didn't knock my socks off. In case you don't know, while the cookies are still hot, you can sprinkle them with crushed candy canes. It's adorably festive!


But it's this plain Jane gingersnap recipe that's a keeper. Melted butter keeps them soft and the flavor just can't be beat. I had every intention of dipping them in chocolate or drizzling them with chocolate but honest to goodness, they're so good the way they are that I decided not to mess with a good thing! Sometimes simple is better.

This dough will feel super soft in your hand. It holds together, so don't worry or add more flour. At the stage of rolling the dough in sugar I started with about 1/4 of a cup of sugar and added more as I needed it. That way I didn't waste a lot of sugar. The cookies spread into amazingly perfect circles when they bake, so don't worry about rolling the dough into perfect balls.

Gingersnaps

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar + extra for rolling
1 large egg
1/4 cup molasses
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Melt the butter and set aside to cool. Use a fork or a whisk to mix together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl, and set aside. Beat 1 cup of sugar with the melted butter. Beat in the egg. Beat in the molasses. Beat in the vanilla. Add the flour about 1/2 cup at a time, beating after each addition. 

Add about 1/4 cup of sugar to a small bowl. Roll the dough into balls about 1-inch in diameter, then roll the dough in the sugar and place each ball about three inches apart on the parchment paper. Bake 10-12 minutes.

Roll balls of dough in sugar.


Fresh from the oven. Soft and so yummy when warm!



We're giving away books here this week, so today I'm offering the choice of MURDER MOST HOWL or THE DIVA STEALS A CHOCOLATE KISS. Leave a comment with your email address to enter. Good luck and Happy Cookie Baking!  


54 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Not the kind of cookies I thought were ginger snaps, but thet look REALLY good!

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  3. Not the kind of cookies I thought were ginger snaps, but thet look REALLY good!

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  4. These look so yummy! And Murder Most Howl please! Thanks for the chance.
    karen(dot)kenyon(at)rogers(dot)com

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  5. These cookies look delicious. Vicki Delany’s Molasses spice cookies from November were so good and a hit with everyone, but gingersnaps are even better! Can't wait to try this recipe. And thanks for the giveaway - I love the cover for Murder Most Howl.
    sallycootie@gmail.com

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  6. The cookies look so yummy! Thank you for the recipe, and for the awesome giveaway.
    myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com

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  7. I have made Gingersnaps every year since I tasted them at a friend's holiday open house. I make a double batch! Thank you for the giveaway. I'll have a difficult time choosing if I win. dbahn@iw.net

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  8. I love ginger cookies. They remind me of my Mom who was an extraordinary baker. I lost her this last November the day before Thanksgiving. I will bake these as a tribute to her! Thank you! I recently purchased Murder Most Howl for my Kindle, but I don't have the Diva book, love the series though. stkate00@aol.com

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  9. I've never made gingersnaps.
    sgiden at verizon(.)net

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  10. Krista, you can never go wrong with a gingersnap. They go with everything - cocoa, tea, and even lemonade during the summer! In a pinch, Trader Joe's Triple Gingersnaps are really good, but it's much more fun to make our own! I'll try your version the next time. Happy Monday! Nicole :-)

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  11. Thanks, Krista! Those gingersnaps look awesome. I'm sure they would be delicious, right from the oven, with a cup of coffee. patucker54 (at aol dot com)

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  12. Warm cookies are the best!
    When we used to camp we made gingerbread in a Dutch oven in the campfire coals. The secret was to put a layer of applesauce in the bottom before putting in the gingerbread mix. It was wonderful warm.

    libbydodd at comcast dot net

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  13. I'm looking for a crisp ginger/spice cookie. You mention these are soft when warm. When room temp, do they get crispy or remain on the softer side? Thanks.

    acm05atjuno.com

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  14. Pat (patdupuy@yahoo.com)December 14, 2015 at 10:53 AM

    I love ginger cookies. I buy a big tin of them at World Market. These look better!

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  15. Looks yummy. Sjgolding@sbcglobal.net

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  16. Looks yummy. Sjgolding@sbcglobal.net

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  17. Those cookies sound great. I might try this recipe. I would love to win either book. Thank you for the chance!
    moonbay7399@gmail.com

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  18. What delectable cookies. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  19. 4 or 5 different kinds???? I am a lazy person. That is awesome!!! These will be baked at my house tomorrow along with gingerbread. Yummy

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  20. Wonderful and so tempting. Books look captivating. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  21. Yummy Gingersnaps. Lady.Janel@Hotmail.Com
    thank you for the chance

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  22. I love gingersnaps, thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
    little lamb lst at yahoo dot com

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  23. I love cookie recipes. I have quite a lot of cookie cutters that I have collected over the years. Thanks for the chance to win. marlene.ezell@gmail.com

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  24. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  25. I love ginger snaps but I've never made any. Love to win! dellilla9@yahoo.com

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  26. Oh yummy...I love ginger snaps! I may have to make a batch very soon! I'd love to win a copy of either of these books! 529JVC@gmail.com

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  27. I love ginger snaps! Thank You for his awesome opportunity!
    b.alexander9212@gmail.com

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  28. Haven't made ginger snaps but my grandson always asks for gingerbread men so I will buy some molasses and try this one. Thanks for the recipe and all your great books. I haven't read either of these yet and would love one of them. jchizmar01@windstream.net

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  29. I love ginger snaps---so I must try this recipe.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

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  30. Looks delicious!
    Becky
    bwilhoite87@gmail.com

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  31. Mmmm, too bad a blog isn't scratch and sniff! cheers@marjimmanor.com

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  32. I love "ginger-softs." I don't really like "snappy" cookies. Your pictures look like the kind of cookie I like! Thanks. I love your "Domestic Diva" series, too. Fingers crossed! kat8762@aol.com

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  33. I love different cookie recipes, baking them but especially eating them! Thanks Krista, I enjoy reading your books, especially the Diva series. katdunn@cox.net

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  34. I love baking different cookie,but my favorite are Christmas Sugar Cookies. I would love to win Murder Most Howl. sclickner@juno.com

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  35. Have never made ginger snaps but just might one of these years,lol. Just did up my sourcream cookies and are chilling now. My mil recipe but add some twist to them by adding orange peel. Hubby's favorites.would love to win one of the books. rags6152@gmail.com
    thanks.

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  36. I'm gathering Christmas cookie recipes! This one sounds good. I'd love another Diva book!njcar22@aol.com

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  37. I have never made gingersnaps before. They look so good. Wish I had some right now. And, the book to go with them.
    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

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  38. Gosh all those cookies are making me hungry...and the book and its cover would make a perfect night of reading. Thank you for the contest.
    Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com

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  39. I love gingersnaps but have never made them. I may have to try them for my youngest son. He really likes them. I would love to win the Murder Most Howl book because I haven't read it yet. The Diva Steals a Chocolate Kiss was excellent. gillian.pilcher@gmail.com

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  40. I love ginger snaps! I have never made them, always bought them at the store. Here's my chance to make them. Thank you for the opportunity to win your book. crossxjo @hotmail.com

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  41. The cookies look great. Thanks for the recipe. vlhcats@gmail.com

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  42. Cookies sound scrumptious. Both books look good!
    cjreynolds52(at)comcast(dot)net

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  43. Love gingersnap cookies, thank you for the recipe. I have the first book in the paw and claws mystery and enjoyed it. suzieqsb(at)aol(dot)com

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  44. I like trying a new one every year too. This year, I tried a toffee bar that was in the newspaper and it was terrible. I froze some and tossed some. The gingersnaps looks great! Those may have to be next! Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

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  45. The cookies look so fantastic, I am ready to try a few right now! Thanks for the chance to win. Either book is great as I am reading both series.

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  46. The cookies look good. I'd love to win a book.
    catbooks72(at)gmail(dot)com

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  47. Gingersnaps are awesome!!! To bad no one else in my house likes them....Oh well, I guess that means that there will be more for me!!! Thanks for the recipe and the chance to win. staceytoney6@gmail.com

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  48. Gingersnaps are great!

    ElaineE246 at msn dot com

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  49. That is a great recipe! Thanks!
    davisel1830@hotmail.com

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  50. Just love gingersnaps so i will be printing out this recipe . I also love cozy mysteries and after i read them i write a review!ptclayton2@aol.com

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  51. I'd love to win one of your books! Love the covers! Love this site! Happy holidays! lindaherold999@gmail.com

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  52. I hope I did not miss the chance to win one of your books - I really enjoy both of your series! Happy Holidays.
    Bonnie (bmalic610@yahoo.com)

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