Frosted Ginger Cookies are so easy and so good. You can leave the frosting off if you'd like, but I think it tempers the spices and adds a nice texture to the cookies.
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Chilling time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours, 40 minutes
Yield: Makes 24 cookies
Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup butter, softened
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon orange juice
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1 tablespoon very finely chopped crystallized ginger
- 1 egg
- 2-1/4 cups flour
- 2-1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Preparation:
In large bowl, beat together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla, orange juice, molasses, crystallized ginger, and egg and beat well.
Sift together remaining ingredients and add to butter mixture. Beat until combined. Cover dough and chill for at least 2 hours in the refrigerator.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Roll dough into 1" balls, place 3" apart on ungreased cookie sheets, and flatten with the bottom of a glass. Bake cookies for 9-12 minutes or until they are set and golden brown. Let cool on sheets for 3 minutes, then remove to wire rack to cool completely. Store at room temperature in airtight container.
If desired, frost with Buttercream Frosting and let stand until frosting is firm.
