Crystallized Ginger Spice Cookies

   Nose, nose, jolly red nose, Who gave thee this jolly red nose? Nutmegs and ginger, cinnamon and cloves, And they gave me this jolly red nose.

-Anonymous  

 I was invited to a holiday cookie exchange. I waded thru the hundreds of recipes I have and chose this one. Yes, another one I have been saving for years. I copied it from Bon Appetite when I was working at Touro Infirmary, in New Orleans.  I have not been back in over 15 years. I do not know the condition of this hospital - in the Garden District. :(  NOLA is one of my most favorite cities...........................reminiscing

This is thin, crisp cookie that packs some heat. HEAT MISER ... HEAT!

Perfect for the cold holidays. COLD MISER...COLD

 If you have never seen these two characters they are from my favorite Christmas special, "The Year Without a Santa Claus"

 Simple decoration

 1/2 powdered sugar

Crystallized Ginger  Spice Cookies 

Bon Appetite- Dec 1992

Makes about 35 cookies

Ingredients

1 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 cup ( 1 and 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

3 Tablespoons finely chopped crystallized ginger

1 large egg white

2 tablespoons dark corn syrup

1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cloves

 Procedure

Pre -Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease or PAM spray large cookie sheet. 

 Dry ingredients-Sift flour, baking soda, salt in a medium  bowl.( reserve)

 Cream unsalted butter and sugar, and crystallized ginger, until light and fluffy with hand or mixer.

 To butter/sugars ADD corn syrup, egg white, and ground ginger, cinnamon , cloves- mix until blended.

 Add dry ingredients to and beat until clumps form. Dough should be smooth. Do not over beat.

Use a level  teaspoon to scoop dough. Shape into balls. Roll into white granulated sugar. Place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet.   Dip bottom of glass into white sugar and press cookies flat.- @ 1 to 2 inches. Repeat until all dough is used. Bake until slightly browned. Cool . Decorate.

 

 silver dragée

no red nose, but a red plate

HO HO HO !