Description
These Orange Ginger Cookies with Crystallized Ginger combine zesty orange zest and spicy crystallized ginger for a delightful twist on classic cookie dough. Softened and chilled before baking, these cookies offer a perfect balance of sweetness and warm ginger flavor, finished with a crunchy sugar coating for an irresistible treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1 portion (370g) Basic Cookie Dough Recipe
Flavorings and Coating
- 3 ounces (85g) crystallized ginger, finely diced
- Zest of 1 orange
- 3 tablespoons white coarse sanding sugar
Instructions
- Make the Dough Log: Break the basic cookie dough into pieces and place it in a mixing bowl. Let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes to soften slightly, which makes mixing easier.
- Add Ginger and Orange Zest: Incorporate the finely diced crystallized ginger and orange zest evenly into the dough, mixing gently to avoid overhandling.
- Shape the Dough: Form the dough mixture into a smooth, even log measuring approximately 7 inches long and 2 inches wide.
- Chill the Dough: Wrap the dough log tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 3 hours, to help maintain its shape when slicing.
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Slice the Dough: Unwrap the chilled dough and slice it into 3/8-inch thick rounds for consistent baking.
- Coat in Sugar: Roll the edges of each cookie slice in the white coarse sanding sugar, then place them spaced apart on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake: Bake the cookies at 350°F for 10-12 minutes or until the edges appear set and the centers turn lightly golden.
- Cool: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the cookies to rest for a few minutes on the sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Serve or Store: Serve the cookies on a platter or store them in a cool, dry place to maintain freshness.
Notes
- Allowing the dough to chill thoroughly is crucial for neat slices and preventing the cookies from spreading too much during baking.
- Using coarse sanding sugar adds a pleasant crunch and shimmer to the cookies’ edges.
- Store the cookies in an airtight container to preserve their crispness and flavor.
- You can substitute basic cookie dough with a similar butter-based dough if unavailable.
- If crystallized ginger is too spicy, reduce the quantity to taste for a milder ginger flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: orange ginger cookies, crystallized ginger cookies, spiced cookie recipe, holiday cookies, baking, orange zest cookies
