When it comes to baked goods, few ingredients can impart warmth and zest like ginger. Ginger shortbread cookies are a delightful fusion of the classic buttery shortbread with the spicy kick of ginger. In this blog post, we’ll explore the wonderful world of ginger shortbread cookies, their history, and provide you with a recipe that will infuse your kitchen with the comforting aroma of ginger and the irresistible allure of shortbread. Please note that this Ginger shortbread cookie recipe isn’t our own, however this will give you an excellent Ginger shortbread cookie that you can make from the comfort of your own home.
Ingredients for Ginger Shortbread Cookies:
For your batch of Ginger Shortbread Cookies, you’ll need:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- A pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat Your Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 325°F (160°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
- Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This typically takes about 2-3 minutes of mixing with an electric mixer.
- Add Flavour (Optional): Incorporate the pure vanilla extract into the creamed butter and sugar. Mix until well combined. This step is optional but adds a delightful fragrance and flavour to your cookies.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and a pinch of salt to the mixture. Mix until the dough just comes together. Be careful not to overmix; you want a crumbly, sandy texture.
- Shape the Dough: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gently knead it a few times until it forms a cohesive ball.
- Form the Cookies: Roll out the dough to about 1/2 inch (1.27 cm) thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out your desired shapes or simply cut the dough into squares or rectangles.
- Bake to Perfection: Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for approximately 15-18 minutes, or until the edges become slightly firm and they no longer look wet on top.
- Cool and Enjoy: Remove the Ginger Shortbread Cookies from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Ginger shortbread cookies are a delightful testament to the captivating combination of spice and sweetness. These cookies offer a warm, comforting flavour that adds a touch of excitement to your baking repertoire.