We had just completed a gorgeous hike one weekend in February at Kortright Centre for Conservation. It was a warmer day and the sun was beaming beautifully throughout the hike. There were some muddy spots and some icy spots but it was totally manageable. This park is not manned this time of year, but, fortunately they leave the gate open for visitors like us. The park is not maintained during the winter but a good pair of hiking boots and you’re good to go. Click down to the end to see a few pictures of our hike.
Unfortunately all of the service buildings are closed this time of year, and after an hour-long hike and ingesting 500 mL of water, one might need facilities, so we decided to stop at a Starbucks on our way home. I usually like to purchase something when I use the facilities in a place but it was well into the afternoon and I really didn’t want a cup of regular coffee and ordering a decaf at Starbucks is about the most painful experience I have ever endured so I avoid it at all costs. Instead, we ordered an oatmeal cookie which they had unfortunately sold out of so, we shared one of their Ginger Molasses cookies. It was so delicious that I wanted to replicate the recipe and bake some at home. JT and I are HUGE ginger fans and I prefer to use fresh ginger whenever I can, so in this lovely recipe, I quadrupled the ginger and used fresh and I added a small amount of candied ginger chopped roughly. These definitely satisfied my ginger craving! Do you ever feel obligated to purchase something if you use a restaurant’s facilities?
Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies
Makes about 72 x 20 g cookies.
For the original recipe, please click here.
To print this recipe, please click here.
Ingredients:
- 284 g unsalted butter at room temperature
- 450 g white sugar
- 2 eggs
- 125 mL molasses
- 20 g fresh ginger, finely minced
- 570 g all-purpose unbleached flour
- 3 g salt
- 23 g baking soda
- 6 g ground cinnamon
- 1 g ground cloves
- 50 g candied ginger, chopped
- 50 g white sugar for rolling
Directions:
- Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time.
- Add the molasses and fresh ginger and beat well.
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and cloves and whisk to combine well.
- Add to the butter mixture and beat until well combined.
- Refrigerate the batter for 1 hour.
- Pre-heat the oven to 350° F.
- Make 20 g balls and roll in the sugar and position on the parchment lined baking sheet leaving about 5 cm between each cookie (don’t be tempted to flatten, it will flatten out on its own in the heat of the oven). Bake for 10-11 minutes, remove from the oven but leave them on the baking sheet because they will finish baking on the sheet. Remove cookies from the baking sheet once they have all but cooled completely.
- Enjoy with coffee or tea or a glass of bubbly!
Notes:
- 11 minutes was absolutely perfect in my oven, the cookies hardened up perfectly sitting on the hot cookie sheet on the counter.
- I always test-bake 1 or 2 cookies before I decide on how big to make the entire batch, it also gives you a solid idea of how long to bake them perfectly.
- Weighing the cookie dough will give you more evenly-sized baked cookies. I can almost eyeball them after making a few balls, but I still like to weigh them for consistency.
I’ve always loved ginger cookies—homemade is best, but my mom used to bring home a box of storebought ginger cookies and we’d inhale those, too. Yours sound perfect with the extra hit of ginger!!!
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Your ginger cookies would be a big hit with both myself and my husband. Love a loaded ginger cookie. BTW, thank you for the sweet note that I found among my email…that was so kind of you. I had to stop blogging for a while to help a friend.
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Thank you for your response Karen. I am so glad that you are OK. I hope your friend is OK too.
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Sadly Eva, she passed away from terminal cancer. She was the bravest woman I know. I spent as much time with her as I could.
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I am so very sorry for your loss. Sadly, I am not a stranger to the ravages of cancer on friendship. You are in my thoughts during this very sad time.
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Chewy, whether it’s a savoury or sweet dish, is my beloved texture, so I’m sure I’d love your cookies. And what an extraordinary idea to use fresh ginger! I’ve only used powdered ginger in sweets even though fresh ginger is in my house a staple just like garlic and onions! I must try this one day too.
I always buy at least for example a bottle of water I’ll drink afterwards because it costs to keep toilets clean, provide paper towels, soap, etc., but I’d prefer simply to pay for the use (unless I want to sit and have something to eat or drink of course). Maybe all the cafés, bars and restaurants should have official – fair for them – prices for non-customers? It’s often complicated when spending all day walking in a city (apart from Tokyo).
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Thank you for your comment Sissi. Mostly we buy water too but this particular time, we brought enough water for our hike. In Hungary, they used to have pay-per-use toilets, I don’t know if they have them anymore but they are such a good idea. That way you feel like you’re paying for the service. In Arizona, they have a law that all retailers must provide facilities to the public, but I feel like I should buy something anyway.
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I love ginger cookies so much. I can love molasses, too, if I’m in the mood. What would happen if I omitted it? Regarding Starbucks bathrooms, I heard that in response to the infamous Philly incident, no one will ever be required to make a purchase in order to use their bathrooms. I feel like you ought to make a purchase, though. It’s not like they’re providing a public service.
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Yes, we heard about that incident, such a shame. But at least it highlighted a huge shortcoming in their training and they reacted quickly to remedy, but only time will tell.
I don’t think omitting 1/2 cup molasses would work out, perhaps subbing it with honey or maple syrup might do the trick.
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LOVE ginger! And fresh is so nice in cookies. Don’t think I’ve had a ginger/molasses combo — neat idea. Thanks!
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Thanks John, it’s a typical ginger snap-style recipe but not as snappy!
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I usually do feel obligated, but Starbucks very recently made a point of letting people know that their policy was that the bathrooms are NOT just for customers. Which is a good thing because I often find myself on Hollywood Blvd and a lot of places have no facilities at all, even for customers. Anyway. I agree with you – the more gingery the better (now I’m talking about cookies…). GREG
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That’s so interesting. I recently found out that in Arizona, retailer must provide facilities to the public. It is not so, here.
I am glad you like gingery cookies too.
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Oh I love Ginger and molasses. Quadruple sounds super to me. Reminds me of my mother’s cookies Eva. Yum!
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I am happy to have brought back some lovely memories. Thanks for your comment, Ruth.
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Well you know I love to forest bathe ;o) so I’m all in on the nature tour; looks so peaceful Eva. Yes, definitely find myself in that position and am also a reluctant user without purchase, especially at smaller mom-and-pop shops (I figure I contribute a good chunk of my income to Starbucks, lol). I usually buy a bottle of water but a cookie sounds way more interesting! I lean towards soft/chewy over snap and am totally impressed and fascinated by the weighing of each cookie! I can imagine it would create great results.
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I know the cookie wasn’t the healthiest choice but we did have lots of water already, plus, paying $2.50 for a bottle they buy from Costco for $0.15 kind of irks me!
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It’s funny I only like a strong ginger flavor and taste in my ginger tea. I don’t care much for it in meals or sweets. Even Gingersnaps can be a bit too gingery for me haha!
Looks like you guys had a great hike! The pics are really nice and from what you say about the weather, sounds like a great day all in all.
And yes, I too feel obliged to purchase something from a restaurant when i use their facilities (if they even let me!) 😀
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Ginger is so good for you, so many benefits (well, maybe without all the sugar in this recipe! hehehehe). The hike was wonderful, after such a long winter it was awesome to get out there and smell the fresh air. In Arizona, all retail establishments must provide facilities for the public, you don’t have to buy anything either!
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Very nice looking cooking. I miss the taste as it’s been a long time since I made them myself.
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This recipe came together easily, I suspect they would be easy to freeze and bake up one at a time too.
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They look awesome and definitely worth of every single gram of sugar and calorie :-))
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Thanks Angie, I don’t normally indulge so it’s OK once in a blue moon. 😉
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