Saturday, October 22, 2011

Regency Ginger Crisps



From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...When my children were small, the first crisp days of autumn signaled the return of soup and rising bread to my kitchen. The soup would steam the windows and the dough added a yeasty aroma to air already perfumed by the lingering scent of burning leaves. These were the the years of ginger bread and apple crisp and the making of memories that I carry still with me today. These days, the fall kitchen, replete with memory, moves into high gear when our rains begin to fall and evening temperatures plummet with the setting of the sun. Today saw the making of bread and the quick assembly of ingredients for a long simmering bean soup. I decided to make cookies rather than a cake or bread, and as I was in need of gingersnaps I decided to try a recipe that's been on my to-do list for way too long a time. The recipe in question was for ginger crisps that appeared in the Joanne Fluke's, Chocolate Chip Cookie Murders. Now here is where I'll get myself in trouble. I really wanted the cookies to make a crumb base for some other recipes that I planned to test this weekend. I don't like the crumbs that are made with standard gingersnaps, and the Swedish cookies that I do love are just to expensive to use in this way. My solution has always been to make my own cookies and then mash them into crumbs. Inelegant? Certainly. Delicious? But of course! Now in the pursuit of crumbs, I must tell you I did manage to nibble on a cookie or two and can report that they are a great standalone treat, especially with a tall glass of cold milk to keep them company. They also make great crumbs. Save for the extended wait time required to chill the dough, the cookies are easy to make and are a great addition to any cookie collection. Like any molasses based cookie, they want to stick to the cookie sheets so get them to cooling racks as quickly as you can. If you haven't yet done so, I hope you'll give these cookies a try. Here's the recipe.

Regency Ginger Crisps...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of Joanne Fluke and the Chocolate Chip Murder Mystery

Ingredients:
3/4 cup melted butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 large beaten egg
1/4 cup molasses
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2-1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup white sugar

Directions:
1) Mix butter and sugar together in a large bowl. Cool if necessary. Add egg. Sir in soda, molasses, salt, and ginger. Mix well. Chill dough for at least an hour.
2) Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
3) Roll dough into balls and then roll them in white sugar. Place on greased cookie sheets and flatten. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Yield 36 cookies

From Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke






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Two Years Ago Today: Old-Fashioned Lemon Pudding

26 comments :

Amalia said...

I've never tried ginger cookies before, but these look great! I love your descriptions at the beginning of your posts. The autumn air, and the smell of yeast rising, bread baking, it's so familiar to my childhood. Thank you for the lovely post, I'm looking forward to your next :)

Pondside said...

This looks very much like the recipe I use, and nothing makes the house smell nicer than these cookies!

Aldy said...

What a lovely recipe, Mary! They look absolutely scrumptious--This is definitely a keeper :) Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

HUGS <3

Aldy.

Yuki said...

Wow! I love ginger flavor!
I have to try them!!!
Thank you for sharing the recipe♪

Katarina said...

What a great looking cookie!

That Girl said...

Your kitchen sounds incredibly warm - in more ways than one.

Rita said...

Gotta try this ginger crisps.
Rita

Light and Voices said...

Ahhh, the memories. Your post this day reminded me, in 7th grade I made ginger cookies a lot. My dad and I both liked the taste. Perhaps I should try to make these again. Ginger is a spice good for an upset stomach. Thanks for the memories.
Joyce M

Nisrine said...

Perfect cookies. I'd love to try them as I never baked cookies with ginger before.

What's Baking?? said...

Send some over please...love these ginger snaps when I was younger too.

Anonymous said...

these are lovely,, not as dark as our recipe,, I like the more delicate flavorings of this one.

Alicia said...

Burning leaves! I used to love that scent. I remember it from growing up in Arizona, although there weren't that many leave we were allowed to burn them. Alas, here in Kern County we can't burn anything. We even have specified burn days when we are allowed to burn wood in our fireplaces. If it's not a burn day then you can't burn wood, or anything for that matter.

These cookies sounds great! My mother loves Gingersnaps, but she's never had homemade ones. I'm going to make these today. Thanks for the warning about removing them from the cookie sheet asap.

Gwen said...

What a lovely recollection. It makes me want to slow down and enjoy this time w my kids more.
I love ginger cookies, these will be perfect to make next week. Do you use powdered ginger?

Sue/the view from great island said...

Ginger cookies are a fall and winter memory for us, too. Except ours are chewy. I think it's a wonderful idea to make your crumbs from scratch, I can't wait to see what gorgeous dessert they are featured in!

Patricia said...

If I close my eyes, I can actually taste that cookie! Looks wonderful.

Ginny Hartzler said...

O.K. you are the Julia Child of America, to actually make cookies for the crumbs!!! These looks so good, I would hate to destroy some just for the crumbs. These look so quick and easy that I might make them this fall!

Lori E said...

The best thing about his recipe is that my husband doesn't like ginger....more for me.

Clau said...

uau!!!isso Ă© muito bommm!bjusXXXX

Joanne said...

I've definitely made cookies to act as a crust before...no shame in that! these sound delicious on their own!

Glennis said...

Oh, I adore cookies like these. I'm making them tomorrow!

SKIP TO MALOU said...

my bed is beckoning but your post is such a tease. now im wide awake trying to figure out how i could have these ginger crisps.. yes i want it right now heheh.
happy weekend!
malou

Angie said...

years ago I had an amazing recipe for ginger snaps ...but I lost it ...I think yours may be the closest I have seen ...but I can no longer eat ginger ... maybe I can turn them in to cinamon snaps lol

Guvi said...

Your stories are wonderful, just like everything that comes from your kitchen!

Melanie said...

i was curious if this was a soft ginger cookie recipe? I tend to like soft, chewy cookies but if it's a stand-in for the Swedish cookies, it sounds like it might be on the firmer side. Thanks!

Mary Bergfeld said...

Melanie, this is a crisp cookie.

David said...

Mary, Thanks for this recipe... My wife just loves ginger crisp cookies! Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

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