Gingerbread

I think, right now, we could use some comfort food. 

To me, there’s nothing more comforting than the rich smell of something baking in the oven, and in that spirit, I thought I’d share with you a recipe gifted to me by a dear friend. This is our go-to gingerbread—perfectly spiced, soft centers, and a great partner for a cup of tea. I hope you enjoy it!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 sticks lightly salted butter, softened 

1 2/3 cups sugar 

1 orange, zested 

4 cups all-purpose flour, plus 1/2 cup additional for rolling, if needed 

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 

1/2 teaspoon baking soda 

1 tablespoon ground dry ginger 

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice 

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 

2 eggs 

1/2 cup dark molasses 

1 lemon, juiced

Instructions:

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle, add the butter, sugar and orange zest and beat until smooth, 5 to 8 minutes. 

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, dry ginger, nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Whisk to blend. Set aside. 

In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, molasses and lemon juice. 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 

When the butter and sugar are integrated, lower the speed of the mixer and add the dry ingredients. Add the egg mixture and when blended, remove the bowl from the machine. Divide the cookie dough in half. Press the first half of the dough in between 2 sheets of waxed paper or plastic wrap and chill for 15 minutes. Repeat with the second half. This step will make it easier to finish rolling out the dough when it has chilled. It will also mean you only have half of the dough getting warm as you roll it. 

Lightly flour a flat surface. Use a floured rolling pin to gently roll the first half of the dough about 1/2-inch thick. Lightly flour the cookie cutter(s) and cut the shapes, making as few scraps as possible. Use a metal spatula to gently transfer them, cookie by cookie, (the cookies should be similar size) to a baking sheet. Repeat with the other half of the dough and transfer them to another baking sheet. A note about crowding the tray(s): these particular cookies can spread a little. Leave room between the cookies. Better to use 3 baking sheets with fewer cookies than to crowd them on 2 trays. Bake until brown around the edges, 8 to 10 minutes.

I hope you are seeking your places of shelter, love, and security—they are still there for you. Now is a good time to take a second to savor some small goodnesses. Maybe a batch of cookies will help right now.