Orange-Ginger Spice Cookies

When the weather outside is frightful, the flavors orange and ginger make me feel delightful. For the past week or so I have been craving citrus and spice. This combination is the perfect way to brighten the cold, dark days of winter and just makes you feel good. I enjoyed these cookies with a cup of orange-spice tea for extra ‘holiday spirit’. Don’t let the thinness of these cookies fool you they are chewy, spicy and rich.A nice little gift for your holiday table. Let’s get cookin!In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 1 1/4 cup flour, 2 tsp cinnamon, 2 tsp ginger, 1/2 tsp cloves, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp salt.In a large mixing bowl, beat 2/3 cup light brown sugar with 1 stick unsalted room temperature butter until light and fluffy.Beat in 1 room temperature egg and 2 TBS molasses.Add 2 TBS chopped crystallized ginger and the zest of 2 oranges.Add the dry ingredients and chill 2 hours or overnight.Roll chilled dough into balls and roll in granulated sugar.Coat the bottom of a glass with non-stick cooking spray and gently press down on each ball. Bake ~12 minutes at 325 and cool completely on a wire rack.

Orange-Ginger Spice Cookies

(Makes 24, Adapted from Bon Appetit)

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2/3 cups light brown sugar
• orange zest (2 oranges)
• 2 TBS minced crystallized ginger
• 1 egg, room temperature
• 2 TBS molasses
• Granulated sugar

1. Pre-heat oven to 325 and line 2 baking sheets.
2. Whisk flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves in a large bowl.
3. Beat room temperature butter and brown sugar together until creamy.
4. Beat in molasses and egg.
5. Mix in orange zest and crystallized ginger.
6. Mix in dry ingredients to combine and chill 2 hours or overnight.
7. Roll into balls and roll in granulated sugar.
8. Space about 2 inches apart and lightly press each dough ball down with the bottom of a glass.
9. Bake ~12 minutes (centers should be soft looking) and cool completely on a wire rack.

Holiday Cookie 1: Pistachio and Cherry Mexican Wedding Cakes

Holiday Cookie 2: Vanilla Almond Biscotti Dipped in Chocolate

Holiday Cookie 3: Chocolate Covered Sable and Orange Curd Sandwiches

Holiday Cookie 4: Hazlenut Linzer Cookie with Blackberry Jam

Holiday Cookie 5: Chocolate-Pecan Fingers

Happy Holidays,

Nora