; Supermarket Serenade: Jumbo Gingersnaps

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Jumbo Gingersnaps

Everyone has one-that go to recipe that never fails you, that everyone loves and that you can make without even cracking open the recipe box to follow along on the card. For me that is a recipe that I found in Good Housekeeping Magazine years ago: Jumbo Gingersnaps.

When I stumbled upon the recipe it was a reader's request for this recipe originally appearing in the magazine in the early 1980s. I was drawn to this recipe because it was a cookie made without butter-not that we are anti-butter in our house-in fact I've caught more than one member of my family eating butter in slices off the dish (I know, gross); at the time I had a friend whose child could not eat any dairy and she was looking for butter free cookie recipes.

The recipe calls for maple syrup, try if you can to use pure maple syrup-I think it makes a real difference in the quality of taste for these cookies. Look for the pure maple syrup in your supermarket near the maple flavored versions. Once opened, store the syrup in your refrigerator. Another ingredient, cardamom, while fabulous is not always something I have on hand (or can always find at the supermarket). I have substituted cloves with great results.

One other tip-if you don't have one, a Metric Wonder Cup is the perfect kitchen tool to use for this recipe. It let's you measure sticky things like syrup and molasses with ease. I bought mine years ago at a Pampered Chef party, but now you can find them at supermarkets and discount stores; they will run you about $5.00 or $6.00 but they are worth every penny.


The recipe makes 10 jumbo sized cookies, but I usually make smaller sized ones so they'll last longer. They make the perfect lunchbox treat-oh, and the perfect little snack to nibble on with a cup of tea for you as you watch that school bus roll up the street.


Jumbo Gingersnaps from Good Housekeeping


1/2 cup Sugar plus additional for rolling
2 1/4 cup All-purpose flour
3/4 cup Salad oil
1/4 cup Dark molasses
1/4 cup Maple syrup
2 teaspoon Baking soda
1 teaspoon Ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1 large Egg

Into large bowl, measure 1/2 cup sugar and remaining ingredients. With mixer at low speed, beat ingredients until well blended, occasionally scraping bowl with rubber spatula.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place 2 tablespoons sugar on waxed paper. Shape 1/4 cup dough into a ball; roll in the sugar to coat evenly.
Repeat with remaining dough to make 10 balls in all. Place balls, 3 inches apart, on ungreased cookie sheets. (Dough is very soft; balls will flatten slightly.) Bake cookies 15 minutes. Using a spatula, remove cookies to wire racks to cool. Store cookies in tightly covered container. Makes 10 cookies.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ginger Snaps are my favorite cookies. My mom still always makes them for me when I need a pick-me-up. Your recipe looks wonderful!

Candy

RecipeGirl said...

Some of the oldest recipes I have are my favorites... especially for cookies like these. They look great!

La Bella Cooks said...

I ate gingersnaps like crazy when I was pregnant with my kids. I was told they would settle my tummy. No such luck but I sure enjoyed trying. Yours look delicious! Now I am craving one...

Jersey Girl Cooks said...

I love ginger snaps and this is a great recipe sinces it uses oil rather than butter or shortening.

Aggie said...

I loooooove ginger snaps!! Jumbo gingersnaps even more! Your cookies look fantastic!

Beth (jamandcream) said...

These look so good. I love ginger anything.

Aunt Julie said...

These look so YUMMY! My youngest is a gingersnap nut. I'm definitely gonna bake me a batch of these--thanks!

Anonymous said...

Love ginger! Your cookies look perfect. I'm not a pretty baker.

Emily said...

Those are just about the most perfect looking gingersnaps I've ever seen! I think I'll try this recipe. Maybe in the fall, when I'm craving spicy flavors.

grace said...

i like butter, but i draw the line at eating it plain... :)
meanwhile, these cookies look perfect--"jumbo" is a word i always like to see when describing cookies. :)

Prudy said...

I've never ever made it with maple before. I'm printing this one out and making it post haste.