WOW scale: 5
Time to prepare: 30 minutes
Skill required: Advanced Beginner
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup molasses
1 egg
2-1/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon cardamom (in spice section of grocery store)
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1 cup chopped, candied orange peel
1/2 cup sugar, for rolling
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a mixer with a paddle attachment, cream the butter.
3. Add the two sugars and cream the mixture.
4. Add the molasses and egg and beat well.
5. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, ginger, cardamom, cloves, salt and white pepper.
6. Add to the creamed butter mixture, mixing just until the dry ingredients are incorporated.
7. Mix in the candied orange peel.
8. Cover dough and chill 1 hour to make it easier to handle.
9. Roll into 1-inch balls and roll in remaining sugar.
10.Place on a parchment-lined sheet pan two inches apart.
11.Bake for 9-11 minutes or until cookies are just set.
12.Let cool slightly on the sheet pan, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
Yield: 36 cookies.
Substitutions:
*If you insist on using margarine in place of butter... don't bother.
*A sugar substitute such as "Splenda" can be used; and cut brown sugar to 1/4 cup.
*Do NOT use maple syrup in place of molasses - they are NOT the same thing.
Commentary: This is easier to prepare than one may initially think. The cookies are scrumptious!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~