Festive Ginger Bites (Printable Version)
Spiced ginger and cinnamon bites with a touch of orange zest, ideal for festive gatherings or tea.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 teaspoons ground ginger
03 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
04 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
05 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
06 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
07 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
08 - 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
09 - 1/4 cup molasses
10 - 1 large egg
11 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 - Zest of 1 orange
→ For Rolling
13 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
# How To Make:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, and salt.
03 - In a large bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
04 - Beat in molasses, egg, vanilla extract, and orange zest until well combined.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms.
06 - Scoop dough by heaping teaspoons, roll into balls, and coat each ball in granulated sugar.
07 - Place sugar-coated dough balls on prepared baking sheets, spacing 2 inches apart.
08 - Bake for 9-11 minutes until edges are set and tops are crackled.
09 - Let cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- These come together in under 30 minutes but taste like they took all day
- The crackled tops make them look bakery-perfect without any fancy techniques
02 -
- Overbaking makes these dry and hard, so pull them when edges are barely set
- The dough needs those full 5 minutes on the hot pan to finish cooking without spreading too much
03 -
- Room temperature ingredients make all the difference in achieving that perfect texture
- Chill the dough for 15 minutes if it feels too sticky to roll