When it comes to quintessential holiday scents, chocolate and gingerbread might top the list. It’s no wonder, what with the warm, earthy quality of both, each lending a coziness to the time of year spent indoors—where kitchens swell with the fragrance of seasonal baked goods and hearts lighten a bit. Think of these cookies as a sophisticated take on the holiday classic without the cookie cutter. Little hands can even help roll the dough into balls and coat them in Turbinado sugar. Pair these ginger cookies with a cup of tea and nestle down to share a story together.
Ingredients
1/2 cup butter (1 cube)
1/4 cup blackstrap molasses
2/3 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons peeled and finely minced fresh ginger
1 large egg
1 cup dried apricots, finely chopped
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 tablespoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate (70 percent cacao)
1/2 cup turbinado sugar
Instructions
In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients (flour, soda, ginger, and salt) and set aside.
Chop the chocolate into roughly 1/8 inch pieces and set aside. in a saucepan heat the butter on low heat until just melted. Stir in molasses, sugar, and fresh ginger. The mixture should be warm but not hot. Stir in the egg. Pour this mixture over the flour mixture and add the apricots until barely combined. Stir in the chocolate pieces. Chill dough for 30-60 minutes in the refrigerator.
Preheat oven to 350° F and use nonstick baking pads or parchment paper to line two baking sheets. Roll dough into quarter-sized balls and coat all sides in turbinado sugar. Place two cookies a few inches apart on the prepared baking trays. Bake for 8-10 minutes until cookies puff up and crack just slightly. Cool and eat within three days or freeze up to three months.
Adapted from Heidi Swanson’s 101 Cookbooks. Photography courtesy of @brittneycaban.
About the Author
Miranda Rosbach is our resident book expert, as a librarian turned children’s book reviewer and stay-at-home-mama. In her spare time, she likes scouting new restaurants and colorful murals. She lives in St. Louis with her husband and two daughters. You can visit her Instagram page, @bookbloom, to learn more.