Sunday, December 15, 2019

One Pot Gingerbread






A warm winter welcome to Shari Randall! You seriously have to check out this recipe. I'm going to try it! Shari is giving away an e-copy of The Queen of Christmas, so be sure to enter at the bottom. Click where it says COMMENTS.

And don't miss the last picture. It's just precious!





By Shari Randall, who is wondering how it got to be December already!

This time of year is a feast for the senses. It brings the cozy warmth of a fluffy sweater; the sound of carols and church bells; and my favorite, the spicy aroma and taste of gingerbread.

It doesn’t seem right to bake gingerbread at any other time of the year. The scent wouldn’t marry well with spring’s flowers or summer sunscreen. Fall and winter are more appropriate since we’re turning to rich flavors like pumpkin spice, molasses, and cinnamon.

Gingerbread is also a holiday favorite because you get to play with it. What fun for children – or anyone! -  to cut out shapes and bake the spicy dough. After the cookies cool, the firm texture stands up well to the decorating efforts of little fingers.

When my girls were little they adored making gingerbread cookies and houses. I have dozens of cookie cutters to prove it. I also have one of the easiest gingerbread recipes around -- One Pot Gingerbread. You simply add all the ingredients to a large pot on the stovetop and stir. Chill the dough and then the cookie cutting party can commence.

I treated myself to some early gingerbread to get in the mood for writing my latest mystery, “The Queen of Christmas.” A magnificent gingerbread house plays a role in the story, which centers on Dagmar Smith, a formidable woman who runs a Festival of Trees fundraiser and dubs herself the Queen of Christmas, much to the annoyance of another character, who thinks she’s the Queen of Christmas. This short story is the perfect length to read on a cold winter’s evening, curled up with a hot drink and maybe a gingerbread cookie or two (or three!). Here’s a link:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081J7WDT8

Tell me: What is your favorite holiday cookie?
I’ll gift a copy of this eBook to one lucky commenter.

Wishing you peaceful moments to enjoy some reading in the midst of the holiday bustle.

ONE POT GINGERBREAD

½ cup sugar
¾ cup unsulfured molasses
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp ground ginger
½ tsp ground cloves
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
2/3 cup unsalted butter (1 stick plus 2-2/3 Tbsp), cut into pieces
½ tsp baking soda
3-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 egg

Heat oven to 350. Lightly grease baking sheets.

In a large, heavy sauce pan or Dutch oven, combine sugar, molasses, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, salt, and nutmeg. Bring to a boil over high heat. Remove from heat and stir in butter pieces, let them melt completely, then add the baking soda.

Stir in egg and flour until well blended – add the flour a bit at a time. Refrigerate at least 3 hours. (At this point you could wrap the dough and freeze. Thaw in refrigerator before using.)

Roll out cold dough between two sheets of wax paper to about ¼” thick. If you like chewy cookies, roll out a bit thicker. Cut out cookies and reroll dough scraps. You may have to chill the scraps – it’s easier to work with cold dough.

Bake 12 minutes until puffed and edges are lightly browned. Cool completely before icing and decorating. Enjoy!








 
Shari Randall is the author of the Lobster Shack Mystery series. She loves travel, dancing, and all things mermaid. You can find her volunteering at her local library, walking in beautiful downtown Mystic, CT, or hunting for bargains at yard sales.

Instagram: sharirandallauthor

Don't forget to leave a comment with your email address to enter the giveaway!

30 comments:

  1. Good morning, Shari! Thank you for sharing your gingerbread recipe. It looks really easy. I'd love to find a 5-ingredient recipe for gingerbread cookies, but alas, it probably doesn't exist. Have a great holiday with your family and a happy 2020.

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    1. Hi Maya! I wish there were a 5-ingredient gingerbread recipe, too, but I think there are five spices alone in this. If there is one, let me know :) Hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday!

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  2. Thanks for sharing Shari--and your girls were too cute!

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    1. Thanks, Roberta! They still are! Happy holidays to you and your family!

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  3. I love gingerbread cookies and will definitely try this recipe. I’m not a great baker but it does look fairly easy, so maybe I can do it. cking78503(at)aol(dot)com

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  4. Oh shoot! I wasn't hungry until I read your post! :D Great article and your book sounds wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL! This is a very dangerous blog isn't it? Thanks for your kind words.

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  5. My favorite Christmas cookies are the walnut cookies my Mom used to make. We still make them every year.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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    Replies
    1. Aren't those recipes from Mom the best? I make my mom's bean soup every winter.

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  6. We used to make gingerbread (boxed mix) when camping. A layer of applesauce went in the bottom of the Dutch oven and then the bread batter. Into the fire coals to bake.
    Delicious warm.
    libbydodd at comcast dot net

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  7. Welcome, Shari. What an easy recipe! Thanks for being our guest today. ~ Daryl

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    1. Hi Daryl, thank you for having me today. The only hard part about this recipe is stirring the dough - it can get stiff. But the rest is easy peasy which is why I love it so much.

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  8. great easy gingerbread recipe it seems......i like french buttercream cookies...originally published by land o lakes butter years ago.

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  9. We called them Molasses Crinkles, just about like Gingerbread but soft !! morganl3@aol.com

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  10. Yummy!

    legallyblonde1961@yahoo.com

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  11. Thanks for the chance!

    cjreynolds52(at)comcast(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Connie Reynolds, you've won the free Kindle copy of "The Queen of Christmas" - hope you enjoy!

      Delete
  12. Recipe sounds easy & delicious. Would love to win the book. schmokercarol(at)gmail(dot)com

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  13. Thanks for the recipe and giveaway. doward1952(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  14. Thanks for sharing your recipe! Love it.

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  15. I've never tried making gingerbread, but this looks easy enough. And I love the reindeer shapes! mbradeen [at] yahoo [dot] com

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  16. I love gingerbread cookies! I will have to try these! Thanks for the chance! almaj80(at)suddenlink(dot)net

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  17. I love gingerbread but then I also love oatmeal raisin...your recipe sounds yummy and more yummy.
    Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com

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  18. Thank you for the opportunity
    lindalou64@live(dot) com

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  19. I love gingerbread and I have tried to make it, but the dough was so sticky so didn't make cutouts, but it was still good. Saamm7(at)msn(dot).com

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  20. Gingerbread is one of my favorite cookies, bread and anything else with ginger. I don't make cutouts because my family enjoys soft cookies so I just make a drop cookie. Thanks for the giveaway. robeader53(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  21. My favorite cookie is a recipe from a Hannah Swensen mystery by Joanne Fluke. I can't remember the exact title right off hand but the recipe has oatmeal, dried cranberries, and coconut in it. It also has alternative ingredients, like oatmeal, chocolate chips and coconut. They are both super yummy and the tip of using a food processor to chop the coconut smaller so it doesn't get caught in your teeth really works! My second favorite is shortbread. I've tried lots of recipes and have finally found one that is easy and everyone loves. Renee. (Mickeymania1@aol.com)

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  22. My favorite Christmas cookie has to be the authentic Scots shortbread recipe I got from the Scottish mom of a college classmate. I doubt I have missed making them at a single Christmas since then. While I love ginger in anything, my husband dislikes molasses, so I have never made gingerbread cookies or houses. This recipe does sound very easy though.
    gnluciow(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete