Tonight is our annual holiday light tour. This is where we drive around with some very special kids who have Down Syndrome. We have been doing this for more than 12 years!! They aren’t so young anymore (nor am I). Adam requested ginger/molasses cookies this year so I baked a giant batch of these babies, along with the giant chocolate chip cookies I saw over at Pickles and Cheese.
It’s pouring cats and dogs here though. We won’t be seeing too much with all this rain but nobody cares. We just talk, laugh, eat and listen to Christmas music as we peruse the neighborhood.
Giant Ginger/Molasses Cookies (Courtesy of Martha Stewart)
Makes 12
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus 1/3 cup for coating
- 6 tablespoons molasses
- 1 large egg
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, allspice, and pepper.
- With an electric mixer, cream butter, brown sugar, and 1/2 cup granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in molasses and egg. With mixer on low, gradually beat in flour mixture until just combined. Flatten into a disk, wrap in plastic, and freeze for 20 minutes.
- Divide dough into twelve 2-inch balls. Place remaining 1/3 cup granulated sugar in a bowl. Roll balls in sugar to coat; place at least 4 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Flatten into 3-inch rounds. Sprinkle with sugar remaining in bowl.
- Bake until brown, rotating sheets halfway through, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool cookies on a wire rack.
Both the Ginger cookies, as well as the giant chocolate chips ones I mentioned above cook up beautifully. How can anyone resist a GIANT cookie? The size alone makes them a conversation piece. My kids have been drooling over them all day in anticipation of tasting them tonight.
Well, I have a lasagna in the oven and I must get back to Last Night in Twisted River so I hope you have a lovely afternoon, even if you are floating out there like we are right now.
Oh, and did I mention that I have the next two weeks off? Sweet!
Book Chatter 
Yum!
What a wonderful holiday tradition. Have fun!
Oh my goodness molasses cookies are my favorite holiday cookies – why haven’t I found the time to make any yet?! Yours look so delicious!
These were super easy and are so good. Soft and spicy but not too spicy. Great with tea or a hot cup of joe.
Cookies look delicious!!!! Like the granite counter, I have the same in mine!!
Now those are the right size cookies, in my opinion! Enjoy your time off!
What a nice tradition you have – both the drive to see holiday decorations and the cookies.
I agree with Jenners – giant cookies are just the right size! These remind me of the bar-pan ‘hermits’ my Gram used to make; hope I have time to bake a batch this week!
Enjoy your time off …
This recipe sounds good (love them cookies), and Ti, what a wonderful thing to do each holiday. Too bad the weather is not perfect.
It occurred to me after I woke up from a nap that I could have spent some time on this cold, rainy afternoon doing something useful – like baking cookies – instead of snoozing. Oh well :-). Enjoy the sights tonight, and try not to get soaked!
That sounds like such a nice way to see the lights and those cookies look delicious! Thanks for the recipes!!
How did the light night go? I bet the cookies were a hit – I love ginerbread cookies.
Enjoy the time off – I’m off most of the time too. I will be working next week but it’s such a quiet time of the year. I’m carrying over time for a trip to Australia in Feb…. not sure why though (I get 5 weeks a year that I never use).
Have a great day!
Yuuum! Time off? Nice! And perfect timing to get some reading done from the Short List!
Yuuum! Time off? Nice! And perfect timing to get some reading done from the Short List!
I’m going to have to try out these recipes.