Ginger Sugar Recipes

GINGER SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Make the cookies: Sift together the flour, ginger, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the egg and beat until combined. Reduce the mixer speed to low; add the flour mixture in 2 batches and beat until just incorporated. Divide the dough between 2 sheets of plastic wrap; shape each into a disk. Wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 4 hours.
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Working with 1 piece at a time, lightly flour the dough and roll out until 1/8 inch thick. Cut out shapes with a 3-inch cookie cutter and arrange 1 inch apart on the baking sheets. Refrigerate the cutouts 30 minutes.
• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 350 degrees F. Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the cookies are light golden around the edges, 15 to 18 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on the baking sheets; transfer to racks to cool completely.
• Make the icing: Whisk the confectioners¿ sugar and meringue powder in a large bowl. Add 5 tablespoons water; beat with a mixer on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, adding up to 1 more tablespoon water as needed. Tint with food coloring, if desired. Spread or pipe on the cookies. Sprinkle with nonpareils. Let set, about 1 hour.

MOM'S GINGER SNAPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, mix together the brown sugar, oil, molasses, and egg. Combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger; stir into the molasses mixture. Roll dough into 1 1/4 inch balls. Roll each ball in white sugar before placing 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
• Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in preheated oven, or until center is firm. Cool on wire racks.

GINGER SUGAR

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Mix sugar and ginger together in a bowl, and spread out in a baking dish to a layer about 1/4 inch thick. Heat in oven for only about 5 minutes, just long enough for the ginger and sugar to begin to melt together but not long enough for it to become a total liquid. Remove from oven and stir well to mix. Leave out to cool and dry, it will take about 24 to 48 hours for it to dry completely. Stir occasionally to assist in the drying process. Once totally dry and crunchy, grind it to the desired texture using a mortal and pestle or even just the back of a fork.

SOFT GINGER SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Combine flour, ginger, soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Set aside.
• Beat butter 30 seconds, until soft.
• Add sugar and beat until fluffy.
• Add egg and molasses and beat well.
• Add 1/2 the flour mixture and stir in, then stir in the rest of the flour mixture.
• The dough should be at a consistency that you can roll it with your hands into balls. I often have to add quite a bit more flour.
• Roll into 1 inch balls, then roll the balls in sugar.
• Place cookes 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 8-11 minutes. Do not brown! The cookies should be almost underbaked in the middle.
• Let, cool 2 minutes and transfer to a cooling rack. Store in cookie tins.

GINGER SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Sift flour, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl. Cream butter and sugars with a mixer until pale and fluffy. Beat in ginger, then yolk.
• Reduce speed to low, and add flour mixture gradually, beating until just combined. Wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 1 hour (or up to 2 days).
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Turn out dough onto lightly floured parchment. Roll out until 1/4 inch thick, and cut out cookies using a 1 3/4-inch heart-shaped cutter. Transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets. Brush each cookie with a damp pastry brush, then sprinkle with sanding sugar. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
• Bake until cookies are set and light gold around edges, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks for 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to racks, and let cool. Cookies will keep, covered, for up to 3 days.

HOMEMADE GINGER BEER

Steps:

• Grate enough ginger using Microplane to measure 3 1/2 tablespoons, then put in a fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl to collect juice, pressing on solids and then discarding.
• Place funnel in neck of bottle and pour in 3 tablespoons ginger juice (reserve any remaining for another use). Add sugar, lemon juice, yeast, and a pinch of salt.
• Fill bottle with water, leaving about 1 1/2 inches of space at top. Remove funnel and screw cap on tightly. Gently shake bottle to dissolve sugar.
• Let stand at room temperature until plastic feels hard and no longer indents when squeezed, 24 to 36 hours.
• Chill ginger beer until very cold.