The Great Brooklyn Baking Show

Many years ago at my bridal shower my mother presented me with a binder filled with family recipes.  The recipes were all hand written on index cards that she organized and photocopied so I could continue to make the things I had eaten as a child.  Some of the recipes included little notes like “second day of school, weather was warm and sunny”.  Some mentioned the name of the person who gave her the recipe.  Some included a note about who in the family liked it.  But they all had one thing in common – they were all written with profoundly vague language.  The recipes were essentially a list of ingredients with corresponding oven temperature and baking time, with literally no information about how to put everything together. Although I tried my best, the only one I ever made successfully was my grandmother’s chocolate cake.  It took me more than a few years to figure out the unwritten nuances (like using a whisk to mix the batter instead of a wooden spoon), but now the cake is our family tradition that I make for every holiday celebration.  The point of this is that I do know a family recipe when I see one, and with the Molasses Ginger Cookies that is exactly what I found myself making.

My Technical Challenge

A week ago my third grader asked if I could make him the delicious cookies his teacher made for their “International Luncheon” right before the holidays.  I thought it was cute that he liked his teacher’s cookies and told him sure, if she gives you the recipe I will bake the cookies for you.  He came home with her recipe the next day and I could tell immediately that it was a family recipe just like the ones my mom gave me.  Like mine, it was extremely short and contained mind-blowingly vague instructions.  It said things like “beat well” and “mix well” without defining what “well” meant.  It also stated simply “roll into balls”.  That was when my jaw dropped and I started to panic because without having seen the cookies for myself I had no idea if they were oversized or bite sized, and I had no idea how many cookies the batter was supposed to make.  But this is where my brilliant daughter brought me back to reality by saying this was my “technical challenge“, like on The Great British Baking Show.  (If you aren’t familiar with The Great British Baking Show you have to catch it on Netflix, it is witty and poignant and will have you on the edge of your seat).  During each episode they have a “technical challenge” where contests are given a vaguely written recipe and box of ingredients to bake an item they often have never seen before, let alone baked.  Then they have a short period of time to figure it out and get it baked.  With that pop culture point of reference I felt confident that I too could pull this off by using common sense with my baking experience.

Molasses Ginger Cookie Heaven

So what happened?  My common sense came through and I’m pleased to report that the cookies turned out great! The cookies are super chewy in the middle and nice and crisp around the edges.  The molasses and ginger come through making it a rich, spicy cookie that goes nicely with a bowl of ice cream or a cup of tea.  Best of all this is a super easy cookie to make, and since you make little balls this is a fun/easy one for the kids to do.  This is a family recipe that I am grateful was shared with us and that will definitely be made again by our family.  In the instructions below I have added in my own notes to make the instructions more clear so it’s easier for you (and me) the next time we make it!

MOLASSES GINGER COOKIES – THE RECIPE

Ingredients

1/2 cup oil

1 cup sugar

Plus 1/4 cup sugar for rolling

1/4 cup molasses

1 egg

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 cups four

1/2 teaspoon cloves

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Step 1

Mix oil, 1 cup of sugar, molasses and egg.  Beat well (I used a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and beat on medium for about 3 minutes, until it become lighter and a bit fluffy).

Step 2

Sift dry ingredients together and add to first mixture.  Mix well (I kept it on low speed and mixed until well combined).  Chill for one hour or longer.

Step 3

Roll into balls (I used a 2 teaspoon scoop), then roll balls in remaining sugar.  Bake on cookie sheet for 10 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

Tell us what you think!

Please comment below if you try the Molasses Ginger Cookies recipe and let us know how it goes!  Find all of Brooklyn to the Catskills‘ recipes in the Food section of our website.  We’d love to hear what you think about our other recipes too!