Photos by Alicia Sokol

- Alicia

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the land,
Hostesses panicked with nothing on hand,
Their guests were appearing from out of the blue,
And what would they serve to this jolly good crew?
Something studded with cinnamon, sugar or spice.
A freshly baked goodie would surely suffice…

Ah, yes. The holiday season brings many a surprise. The last minute guests or the unexpected party invitation need not render one helpless. A plate of freshly baked holiday cookies can be yours to give or serve with a little preparation. Allow me to introduce you to TasteFood’s Ginger Spiced Molasses Sugar Cookies. With a tender center and crispy edges, this cookie layers a rich bouquet of aromatic spices atop a classic sugar cookie base, filling the house with a warm, holiday essence.

Arm yourself accordingly by whipping up a batch of this dough, which comes together without any fuss. The dough is easier to work with when cold -- it's a little sticky. Rub a few drops of canola oil between your palms to keep the dough from sticking to your hands when rolling into balls. To add a hint of golden sparkle and a bit of extra sugary crunch, I spread raw turbinado sugar onto a plate and dredged each ball in it before lining them up neatly on the parchment-lined baking sheet.

Photo by Alicia Sokol

Since the dough freezes beautifully, you can tuck it away for later or do what I did -- bake half immediately and keep the rest at the ready when times call for fresh, hot cookies in a flash. Simply freeze the sugar-coated dough balls on a cookie sheet for at least an hour before transferring them to a freezer bag. Remove them from the freezer as needed and bake at 375 degrees F for 12 to 13 minutes. 

She spoke not a word and appeared from thin air,
With a plate full of warm spice-scented delights to share,
They disappeared quickly with a grab and a bite,
Happy Holidays to all and to all a good night.

Ginger Spiced Molasses Sugar Cookies by TasteFood

Serves 24

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
3/4 cups unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cups packed dark brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup unsulfured molasses
1/3 cup finely diced candied ginger (optional)
granulated sugar for rolling

See the full recipe (and save and print it) here.

Like this post? Read Alicia's previous post: Butternut Squash and Roasted Garlic Galette.

Alicia writes the blog Weekly Greens, where she gives busy families healthy recipes for everyday farm-to-table eating.