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The storm had paused for a few hours and the sight out the window was an enchanted winter wonderland. We decided to bundle up, pull our boots out of hibernation and take a stroll. It had snowed, rained, then froze and everything was covered with a thin layer of ice. It was fun to hear the crunch, crunch, crunch of the ice shattering with each step.
We have a wooded trail nearby and it was a gorgeous sight to see the evergreen trees robed in white while the others glistened with a layer of clear frozen crystal. We certainly couldn't have snuck up on anyone though; the normally silent winter forest scene seemed to echo every footstep as if we were giants.
It seemed that hiking through the icy snow was double the effort of normal walking, and both Scott and I worked up a hardy appetite. By the time we got home, we were famished. I prepared some lunch, but also decided something sweet would be quite proper for such a snowy winter day. These Ginger Toffee Cookies were the perfect prescription!
These little guys are some of my favorite cookies, though a bit unusual for ginger cookies. The difference? They don't include traditional ground ginger; finely chopped crystalized ginger is the mystery ingredient here. Another delicious departure from the classic ginger cookie is the addition of toffee bits. These cookies also include cinnamon, cloves, a generous splash of molasses and a roll in demera (raw) sugar before baking. The cookies are crunchy (just like the snow!) and crisp around the edges with chewy, sweet centers; to me, the perfect ginger/molasses cookie.
No matter what your weather menu looks like, I think these cookies will be a hit at your house too. Just be sure to plan ahead a bit as they need a one hour chill in the fridge before baking. I'm going to run now; I think I'll take another long, crunchy walk so I can feel justified in eating a couple more cookies. Well, maybe more soggy than crunchy as it's now 54˚F with bright sunny skies and rivers of melting snow everywhere!
Ginger-Toffee Cookies
Ingredients:
½ cup butter, softened
½ cup vegetable shortening, at room temperature
1 ½ cups brown sugar
¾ cup molasses
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon salt
3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup finely chopped crystalized ginger*
1 8-ounce bag toffee bits (I use Heath Bits of Brickle) you can find these near the chocolate chips - not all groceries carry them but I know both Super Walmart and Targets with grocery sections do.
½ cup demera sugar (also called raw or turbinado sugar), for rolling
Instructions:
1. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter, shortening and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the molasses eggs and vanilla. Beat until incorporated.
2. Add baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Mix for 10-15 seconds. Add flour, chopped crystallized ginger and toffee bits. Mix just until all flour is incorporated. Scrape down dough from sides of bowl and cover bowl with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
3. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350˚F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper for easy clean up, if desired. Pour demera sugar onto a large dinner size plate.
4. Scoop out golf ball-size spoonfuls of dough and roll into balls between the palms of your hands. Roll in the demera (also known as turbinado or raw) sugar and place on prepared sheet pans.
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I don't know why I cannot print your delicious recipes ? Did you make a change ? I need Google ? Is this normal ?
I'm using Firefox and not Google.
Hi Elaine, So sorry you've had trouble. I'm not sure what's going on. You shouldn't need any special browser. I just checked several of the recipes and the print function seemed to work fine. I use Safari but I downloaded FireFox and that worked as well.
I tried your shortbread cookies a couple of years ago as additions to my first holiday cookie tins and they were a huge hit! I didn't realize that you were right here in Raleigh! I'm excited to try this recipe today and hope it will be as much of a staple as your shortbread recipe has become. I think I've made 3 or 4 batches this weekend! Happy Holidays!
OMG!!! These cookies are AMAZING! They are chewy, crunchy, and beautiful! I will be making these every year. Thank you for sharing!
These look great, and I'm excited to try them. Anyone have suggestions/experience with adding chocolate? My wife seldom will look at a non-chocolate dessert, and it's not as if chocolate clashes with this ingredient list...
I would try these cookies if you're looking for chocolate. They are fantastic! http://thecafesucrefarine.com/2014/06/chocolate-sugar-cookies/
I love the crunch of the raw sugar and toffee along with the chewy ginger bits. Delicious! I was out of molasses so I substituted honey and used dark muscavado sugar in place of brown. I will be making these again!
These cookies look amazing! Here in Amsterdam the weather has been mild, no real winter this year. Hugs!
It's been a pretty intense Winter here, feels like there's snow in the forecast always, but these cookies would make me feel better about it!
The Carolina weather was all they were talking about on TV the other day. Glad you were able to enjoy it and not lose any power. The photos of your walk are stunning. Just trying to keep warm while walking in the cold is enough to work up an appetite. I'll bet these cookies hit the spot.
What a winter wonderland. The cookies look amazing - I love the added toffee bits!
Lovely snowy day picture, Chris! I think a tall pile of these delicious cookies accompanied by warm milk will make anyone very happy.
A strong coffee and one of these cookies and I'm a very happy girl 🙂
These look great Chris. So pretty and filled with those things I love - toffee, and molasses and ginger - sounds wonderful. Thanks for sending the snow our way - we got at least 12 inches so I guess it didn't all get dumped on you! Have a wonderful week and I hope it's a warm one!
I think the weather is crazy everywhere! In the meantime, I have to tell you that I fell in love with these cookies the minute I saw the title of the post. I can't wait to try them.
Cookie perfection.
We're getting really, really tired of the cold and snow! Tough winter in much of the US this year, it seems (except for Alaska -- warm temperatures there!). Lovely cookies. Ginger has wonderful flavor. And toffee? Yes, please.
Great excuse to fight the cold! (I wish my hands could go through the computer screen right now to take some of those beauties) 😀
Absolutely love these sugar kissed ginger toffee cookies. I consider myself lucky to be living in warm tropics 🙂
Yeap, walking in the snow is quite harder... A storm in Carolina... what an odd winter... Around here, since the end of november it's been colder than normal... Don't like it, it's always freezing... Anyway I know one of your cookies would cheer me up!
Love all the crunchy ice and snow photos! So pretty. But, I bet you are ready for spring to roll around soon. It's amazing how much snow fell in the South this season. These cookies look incredibly scrumptious! I love baking with crystallized ginger and even enjoy nibbling on it like candy. Thanks for sharing, Chris. Already pinned to group boards. 🙂 Stay warm and cozy!
Oh Chris...I wish I had a plate of these waiting for me when I came in from shoveling! How warm and sweet! They look soooooo good. And your snowy landscape looks beautiful!
they look yummy!
We took a brisk 5K walk this morning and although it wasn't crunchy, I would have loved a warm cookie afterwards! 🙂
These cookies look like the perfect snack to enjoy with the winter white exterior!
Dear Chris, the weather sounds pretty cold but the pictures of the snow and ice covered trees are wonderful - hope the weather will ease up soon.
Your ginger cookies have all the wonderful spices that I love so much - they sound perfect not only when the weather is cold but anytime of the year - they look so perfect too! And those toffee bits must make these cookies even more of a treat.
Do stay safe and warm - hope you all had a nice Valentine´s Day yesterday!
They look very inviting and I know I would like the bit of crunch of the crystalized ginger. Hope you have a lovely weekend Chris.
Sam
Yummy cookies looks so perfect
Toffee and ginger...they remind me of Christmas 🙂 I am very sure these cookies are very tasty.
These looks so soft and the flavors sound delish!
I bet I'll make these too:-)
I thought you lived in California..
Love the snow pics..we are getting a lot again today..it's so pretty:-)
Uh, oh. You've done it again. Made my favorite ginger cookies even better by adding toffee! And I always love the boost of ginger flavor from using crystallized ginger...so divine! Hope you and Scott had a wonderful Valentine's Day!!!
The snow is so beautiful Chris but what I'd really like is one of these biscuits!
Mmmmm I'd walk extra for some of those! Your winter wonderland is beautiful. Star safe and warm!
You are so ambitious Chris! We're having more of our fair share here in the Midwest but it is zapping my energy. However, I think a couple of these cookies would get me back on track. I Love crystallized ginger!!
great cookies! love both ginger and toffee!
The cookies sound great and I love your little milk bottles! Happy Valentine's Day:@)
I know the weather is complicated there, but your pictures look beautiful!!
And I love these cookies look amazing!
Happy Valentine's say dear!!
I think you cookies are perfect for the kind of weather your having. My Mom lives in Charlotte and has gotten hit the same way. My sister said the grocery stores are out of milk, eggs and bread!! Crazy weather! Stay safe and warm and enjoy the cookies!!
Did I misread your post--it sounds as if there are toffee bits in your cookies, but I can't find any other mention of them.
Oh my goodness, sometimes I'm such a dim wit! Yes the cookies definitely have toffee bits. I corrected the recipe and I thank you so much for noticing this!