Peppery Snaps Food

CHEF JOHN'S GINGERSNAP COOKIES

Steps:

• Whisk 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, cloves, black pepper, and cayenne together in a large mixing bowl until thoroughly mixed.
• Cream together butter and 2/3 cup sugar in a separate bowl until pale yellow and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add candied ginger, molasses, vanilla, and egg. Whisk mixture until well blended. Add dry ingredients to butter/sugar mixture and stir just until the flour disappears. Cover dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Pour 1/2 cup white sugar in a shallow dish for rolling cookies.
• Scoop out about 1 1/2 teaspoons dough with a small scoop or teaspoon. Form dough into balls and roll in white sugar. Place cookies on prepared baking sheet. Slightly flatten cookies to about 1/4 inch thick; sprinkle with a pinch more sugar.
• Bake in preheated oven until cookies are your desired crispiness or chewiness, 10 to 15 minutes.

SHARI'S EXTRA-SPICY GINGERSNAPS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in molasses and egg., Combine the flour, ground ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, mustard, white pepper, cardamom, cayenne, cloves and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in crystallized ginger. Cover and refrigerate for 1-1/2 hours or until easy to handle., Shape dough into 1-in. balls; roll in sugar. Place 3 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until set. Cool for 2 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Store in an airtight container.

EXTRA-SPICY GINGERSNAPS

Steps:

• Combine the flour, baking soda, and spices in a mixing bowl and set aside. Cream the butter until smooth and fluffy in a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer). Add the sugars and mix. Add the molasses and mix. Add the egg whites in 2 batches, mixing to combine after each addition. Add the dry ingredients in three batches, mixing to combine after each addition.
• Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread a few tablespoons of granulated sugar on a small plate.
• Roll the dough into 3/4-inch balls, then roll each ball in the sugar until lightly coated. Transfer to parchment lined cookie sheets, leaving 1-inch of space between the cookies. Bake until browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool on wire racks and store in an airtight container.

PEPPERY SNAPS

Steps:

• Combine first seven ingredients, set aside.
• In a bowl, beat the brown sugar, molasses, butter and egg.
• Stir in dry ingredients, mix well. Chill for 1 hour.
• Shape into 1" balls.
• Roll in sugar and place on ungreased baking sheets.
• Bake at 350F for 10-13 minutes.
• Cool cookies about 1 minute before removing to wire racks.