3-Unique Gingerbread Cookies Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (the unique twist)
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1/3 cup unsulphured molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 orange (for a citrusy note)
For decoration: Royal icing, sprinkles, candied orange peel
Equipment:
- Mixing bowls
- Whisk
- Electric mixer or stand mixer
- Plastic wrap
- Rolling pin
- Cookie cutters (in festive shapes)
- Baking sheets
- Parchment paper
- Cooling rack
Instructions:
Dry Ingredients:
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and black pepper.
Cream Butter and Sugar:
Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the egg, molasses, vanilla extract, and orange zest, and beat until well combined.
Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, beating on low speed until a dough forms.
Chill the Dough:
Divide the dough in half, shape it into disks, and wrap it in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for something like 3 hours or short-term. Chill in the cooler for somewhere near 3 hours or the present moment.
Preheat Oven:
When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Roll Out Dough:
On a daintily floured surface, carry out one circle of mixture to around 1/4 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes.
Bake:
Place cookies 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 7-10 minutes or until edges begin to brown
Cool:
Allow the treats to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then move them to a wire rack to totally cool.
Decorate:
Once cooled, decorate with royal icing, sprinkles, and candied orange peel as desired.
Enjoy:
Serve your unique gingerbread cookies with a warm cup of milk or hot cocoa.
Unique Touch:
The addition of black pepper gives these cookies a subtle warm kick, which complements the traditional gingerbread spices. The orange zest adds a refreshing citrus aroma that pairs wonderfully with the deep molasses flavor.