Nora Cooks Ginger Cookies Food

SOFT GINGER COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Combine flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt.
• Set aside.
• In large miximg bowl with an electric mixer beat butter for 30 seconds.
• Add 1 cup sugar.
• Beat until fluffy.
• Add egg and molasses; beat well.
• Add half the flour mixture; beat until combined.
• Stir in remaining flour with a wooden spoon.
• Shape into 1-inch balls.
• Roll in 2 tablespoons sugar; place on ungreased cookie sheets 2 inches apart.
• Bake in preheated oven 10 minutes or until light brown and puffed.
• Let cool on cookie sheets 2 minutes.
• Transfer to wire racks to cool.

THE MOST WONDERFUL GINGERBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves until well blended.
• In a large bowl (KitchenAid's great for this) beat butter, brown sugar, and egg on medium speed until well blended.
• Add molasses, vanilla, and lemon zest and continue to mix until well blended.
• Gradually stir in dry ingredients until blended and smooth.
• Divide dough in half and wrap each half in plastic and let stand at room temperature for at least 2 hours or up to 8 hours.
• Preheat oven to 375 deg. Prepare baking sheets by lining with parchment paper.
• (Dough can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, but in this case it should be refrigerated. Return to room temp before using.) Preheat oven to 375°.
• Grease or line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
• Place 1 portion of the dough on a lightly floured surface.
• Sprinkle flour over dough and rolling pin.
• Roll dough to a scant 1/4-inch thick.
• Use additional flour to avoid sticking.
• Cut out cookies with desired cutter-- the ginger bread man is our favorite of course.
• Space cookies 1 1/2-inches apart.
• Bake 1 sheet at a time for 7-10 minutes (the lower time will give you softer cookies-- very good!).
• Remove cookie sheet from oven and allow the cookies to stand until the cookies are firm enough to move to a wire rack.
• After cookies are cool you may decorate them any way you like.
• I usually brush them with a powdered sugar glaze when I am in a hurry, but they look wonderful decorated with Royal icing.