Cooking Lesson #611: Ed’s Mega-Ginger Cookies

…from the Perspectives’ Test Kitchen

​​How you doin’? Every time we write a recipe to be published it gets sent to the test kitchen to be cooked or baked to make sure that everything works—it’s the way we’ve always done it. Yesterday, I had to laugh so hard I thought I would pee in my pants. I handed off this recipe to one of our team members and the picture on the side is how it turned out. Part of the implied instructions is: Measure all ingredients and have them at your side before you start. Follow the recipe exactly, do not take short cuts.
 
Usually with new kitchen team members they line up all the ingredients so they can be accounted for. That way we can be sure all the ingredients have been measured correctly.
 
Well, yesterday we were rushed and let our guard down and didn’t properly check out the ingredients. Our baker measured out 1-pound (2 sticks) of unsalted butter instead of 8-ounces (1 stick) of unsalted butter (the way it was written). The butter was also very soft, warmer than room temperature, and we were short half of the crystalized ginger, honey and molasses granules. Instead of packing it in for another day, our baker made the cookies with substitutes anyway.
 
How’d did they turn out? Well, I can say they were definitely buttery, light on ginger flavor and flatter than a pancake. Some were crisp, others weren’t. It wasn’t perfect but they were sweet and interesting so I guarantee you that with our hungry hordes in the test kitchen they will be fully consumed.
 
Please do me a big favor… when in doubt, follow the friggin’ recipe exactly!
 
Prep time:  15 minutes
Cool time:  60 minutes
Bake Time:  12 minutes
Yield:  2-1/2 Dozen
 
Ingredients 
3/4 cup chopped crystallized ginger
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 cup granulated sugar
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup molasses
1 large egg (room temperature)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup honey granules (Amazon) or
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup molasses granules (Amazon) or
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoons fine ground black pepper
1 tablespoons ground cinnamon1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
1/4 cup turbinado sugar (Sugar-In-The-Raw), for dipping
 
Directions

1. Measure all ingredients and have them at your side.
2. In a food processor pulse both gingers and 1/2 cup sugar until ginger is finely ground.  Transfer to another container.
3. Place butter and 1/2 cup sugar in food processor and whirl until fluffy.
4. Add ginger mixture, molasses, egg and vanilla extract; pulse to mix.
5. Sift and mix flour, honey, molasses granules, baking soda, black pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg. 
6. Add to the butter mixture; pulse to blend well.
7. Cover dough and chill until firm to touch, about 1 hour.
8. Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and coat in turbinado sugar. 
9. Place the formed dough balls 2 to 3 inches apart on nonstick (Silpat) or oiled baking sheets.
10. Bake in a 350⁰ F oven until slightly darker than brown, 11 to 12 minutes total.
11. Switch the pan position after about 6 minutes for even browning. 
12. Transfer cookies to wire racks to cool. 
13. Serve immediately, or store in an airtight container for up to two weeks or freeze cookies for longer storage.

ChefSecret:  The more you whip the butter in the food processor the lighter and fluffier your cookies will be.
Quip of the Day: My doctor asked if anyone in my family suffered from mental illness and I said, "No, we all seem to enjoy it.”
-------------------------------------------
Do you have a question or comment? Send your thoughts to ed@perspectives-la.com. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/covid-19-survival-guide.
-------------------------------------------
To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, be positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to Feeding America and/or American Red Cross.
 
#Baking #GingerCookies #FollowTheRecipe #Molasses #Ginger #2023Recipes #QuarantineKitchen #Covid19 #FeedingAmerica #RedCross #PerspectivesTheConsultingGroup  
​
                                                                           ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2023
​

---