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Christmas: Molasses Spice Cookies

Source of Recipe


From "Holiday Cookies" by Elisabet der Nederlanden



List of Ingredients



• 3¾ cups all-purpose flour
  
• 2 tsp baking soda
  
• ½ tsp ground star anise
  
• 1½ tsp ground ginger
  
• 1½ tsp ground cinnamon
  
• 1 tsp kosher salt
  
• 1 cup (8 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  
• ¾ cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
  
• 1 cup granulated sugar
  
• 2 eggs
  
• ½ cup unsulphered dark molasses
  
• 3 Tbsp vegetable oil
  
• ½ cup coarse decorating sugar
  






Instructions



1. Sift the flour, baking soda, star anise, ginger, and cinnamon into a bowl, then whisk in the salt. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar and beat on medium speed for about 3 minutes, until light and creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition until incorporated and stopping to scrape dow the sides of the bowl as needed. Add the molasses and vegetable oil and beat until incorporated. On low speed, add the flour mixture and beat again, just until incorporated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for one hour.
   
   
2. Position two oven racks, evenly spaced, in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Put the coarse sugar in a small, shallow bowl.
   
   
3. Scoop up 2 tablespoons of the dough, roll between your palms into a ball about 1¾ inches in diameter, and then roll the ball in the coarse sugar to coat evenly. Place about six balls, evenly spaced, on each prepared baking sheet. Lightly flatten each ball with the palm of your hand.
   
   
4. Bake the cookies for about 20 minutes, until lightly puffed, switching the baking sheets between the racks about halfway through the baking time. Transfer the baking sheets to wire racks and let cool for 5 minutes, then carefully transfer the cookies to the racks and let cool completely.
   
   
5. While the cookies are cooling, repeat with the remaining dough, shaping, baking, and cooling the cookies the same way before serving.
   
   Makes about 24 cookies.
   
   






Final Comments


"Large and generously spiced, these fragrant cookies get their slightly unusual taste from licorice-like star anise. You can grind your own using a spice grinder or a dedicated coffee grinder, but some specialty spice stores offer it already ground."