Special Gingerbread Cookies

gailanng's Note:

Don't eliminate the orange and lemon zest. That's what make these extra special. Dough is freezable. I've used this recipe every year for the last 30 years...tried and true! (Note: For the first time this year, I substituted pure dark cane syrup for the molasses in one batch and many liked the milder flavor even better.)

• Total Time: 3 hrs
• Prep Time: 2 hrs 30 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 40

• 6 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 ¼ teaspoons baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter , room temperature
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 cup molasses
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 eggs , room temperature
• 2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest
• ½ teaspoon finely grated lemon zest

Directions:

1. Preheat oven 350 degrees.
2. Stir together flour, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, baking soda and salt; set aside.
3. In a large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer about 30 seconds; add brown sugar and beat until light and fluffy.
4. Add molasses and vanilla to the butter mixture and beat on low until combined. To this, add the eggs, orange and lemon zest, beating on low to mix.
5. Add flour mixture; stir with a spoon until combined.
6. Divide dough into 4 portions; wrap each and chill about 1 hour.
7. Grease cookie sheet. Roll out one portion of dough on a lightly floured surface approximately 1/4" thick. Best if not rolled thicker. (Tip: To keep things clean, roll the dough between two sheets of plastic wrap. Use immediately, refrigerate or place in freezer for future use. If frozen, defrost overnight in refrigerator. Keep refrigerated until ready to cut).
8. Cut cookies to desired shapes and arrange 1 1/2" apart on a cookie sheet.
9. Bake about 7 - 10 minutes or until edges are firm and light brown. Transfer to wire rack.

Reviews

[Mikekey]

10 STARS!!! This dough is so easy to work with and the citrus zest adds just the right amount of extra flavor. Loved everything about these! Made for Christmas Cookie game at kittencalskitchen.com

[Tea Jenny]

Mmmm, wonderful cookies you can really taste the molasses, that was the strongest flavour that came through for me, I used black treacle it's what we use in Scotland for molasses. The kids will love these, nice and crisp on the outside and softer in the middle. Yummy!!! Thank you for posting. Made for ZWT'6 2010.

[Sydney Mike]

Absolutely love your gingerbread cookies ~ A great recipe that is a definite keeper! Made these to include in my contribution to one of the last winter holiday celebrations we attended, but I did hold back some 15 cookies just for the 2 of us to enjoy right here at home! I was generous with the zest here & loved every bit of it! Thanks for sharing a wonderful recipe! [Tagged, made & reviewed as a special reward for one of those few players who shared a specially created holiday cookbook in PRMR Holiday Special]