Winter Market Ginger Spice Cookies (Print Version)
Warm, aromatic cookies blending ginger, cinnamon, and cloves for cozy winter moments.
# List of Ingredients:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 teaspoons ground ginger
03 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
04 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
05 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
06 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
07 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
08 - 1 cup granulated sugar
09 - 1/4 cup unsulphured molasses
10 - 1 large egg
11 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
→ For Rolling
12 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
# Step-by-step Instructions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, and salt until evenly blended.
03 - In a large bowl, use an electric mixer or whisk to cream the softened butter and 1 cup sugar together until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
04 - Beat in the egg, molasses, and vanilla extract until thoroughly combined.
05 - Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently just until incorporated to form the dough.
06 - Scoop dough into 1-inch balls, approximately 1 tablespoon each. Roll each ball in the 1/4 cup of granulated sugar and place them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
07 - Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, until the edges are set and tops are crackled.
08 - Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The molasses and warm spices create a depth that tastes like you've been baking all day, but they come together in under an hour.
- These cookies crack beautifully on top as they bake, giving them that burnished, bakery-quality appearance that somehow tastes even better.
- They're sturdy enough to pack into gifts or eat with coffee, soft enough to enjoy with hot cocoa, and aromatic enough to make your kitchen smell like a holiday market.
02 -
- The molasses can cause the dough to spread more than you expect, so spacing your cookies 2 inches apart isn't optional—it's the difference between individual cookies and one connected sheet of cookie.
- Those crackles on top aren't a mistake; they happen because the sugar coating contracts as the cookie sets, and underbaking by about 30 seconds is what creates that beautiful, intentional look.
03 -
- Measure your flour by spooning it into the measuring cup rather than scooping directly, which compacts it and makes your cookies drier than intended.
- If you prefer crisper cookies, bake for 11–12 minutes instead; if you like them softer, pull them at 9 minutes and let residual heat finish them gently on the cooling sheet.