The Best Gingersnaps

By jdwooten

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 c. all purpose flour
• 1 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp. ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 8 Tbs. (1 stick) unsaltd butter, at room temperature
• 2/3 c. sugar, plus about 5 Tbs. sugar for dusting tops
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 egg yolk
• 1/4 c. molasses

Details

Servings 30

Preparation

Step 1

In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg and salt. Set aside.

Using an electric mixer, beat together the butter and 2/3 cup sugar on high speed until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Beat in the vanilla, egg yolk and molasses, mixing well. Reduce the speed to low and add teh flour mixture in three additions, beating until each addition is fully blended. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 1 hour.

Place the chilled dough on a piece of plastic wrap and shape it into a rough log about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Wrap the log in the plastic wrap and roll it back and forth until the surface of the log is smooth and even. Refrigerate the roll for 2 hours or freeze for up to 2 months.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightl oil baking 3 sheets.

Remove the roll from the refrigerator or freezer and unwrap it.

Cut the roll into slices 1/8 inch thick and place them 1 inch apart on the baking sheets. Sprinkle each of the tops with 1/2 tsp. sugar.

If using 1 oven, place 2 sheets at a time in the oven; refrigerate the remaining sheet until ready to bake. Bake the cookies until golden around the edges but sitll soft, 8 to 10 minutes for chewy cookies and 10 to 12 minutes for crisp cookies; switch the pans halfway through the baking time. Using a spatula, immediately transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.