Cookies That Snap
CHOCOLATE GINGERBREAD COOKIES
Makes about 30 cookies
Recipe by Annalise Sandberg
You can’t go wrong adding chocolate to this favorite. Traditional gingerbread cookies with cocoa powder are even more tempting than the classic.
10 tablespoons (140 grams) unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup (165 grams) firmly packed light brown sugar
½ cup (170 grams) unsulphured molasses
1 large egg (50 grams)
1 large egg yolk (19 grams)
1 teaspoon (4 grams) vanilla extract
3 cups (375 grams) all-purpose flour
½ cup (43 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon (5 grams) baking soda
½ teaspoon (1.5 grams) kosher salt
2 teaspoons (4 grams) ground ginger
2 teaspoons (4 grams) ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon (1 gram) ground allspice
½ teaspoon (1 gram) ground cloves
Vanilla Icing (recipe follows)
Garnish: silver nonpareils
1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and brown sugar at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Add molasses, and beat until combined. Add egg and egg yolk, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves. Add flour mixture to butter mixture, and beat at low speed just until combined.
3. Scoop dough onto a sheet of plastic wrap; using plastic wrap, shape dough into a large disk. Wrap tightly, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 3 days.
4. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper.
5. On a heavily floured surface, roll dough about ¼-inch thickness. Using a 4-inch gingerbread person cutter or other desired cutter, cut dough, and place 2 inches apart on prepared pans. (Roll and cut dough in batches to keep it cold and firm.)
6. Bake, one batch at a time, until puffed and cookies appear dry, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool on pan for 5 minutes. Remove from pan, and let cool completely on wire racks.
Using Vanilla Icing, decorate cooled cookies as desired. Garnish with sprinkles, if desired. Let stand until icing is set, about 1
