Description
These Spice Cookies are a delightful holiday treat featuring warm, comforting spices like ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, blended with zesty fresh orange peel. Soft and chewy with a golden finish, they make a perfect addition to any festive cookie platter.
Ingredients
Cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon finely grated fresh orange peel (use a microplane zester, avoid white pith)
- 2 tablespoons ground dried ginger
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- ¾ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ⅛ teaspoon Morton kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pans: Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C). Lightly spray two 8-inch or 9-inch light-colored round cake pans with nonstick spray and set them aside. Using 9-inch pans results in thinner cookies that bake faster, while 8-inch pans produce slightly thicker cookies requiring more baking time.
- Mix butter and sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and packed light brown sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 1-2 minutes, to aerate and create a tender texture.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, finely grated fresh orange peel, ground dried ginger, cinnamon, ground cloves, baking soda, and kosher salt until evenly combined and fragrant.
- Combine wet and dry mixtures: Add the dry ingredients to the butter and sugar mixture. Mix gently just until evenly incorporated to avoid overworking the dough, which could toughen the cookies.
- Shape and bake: Divide the dough evenly in half and gently press each half into the bottom of the prepared pans, spreading into an even layer. Place pans in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cookies are beautifully golden and the centers are set but still soft to touch.
- Cool and cut: Remove the pans from the oven and place them on a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, carefully cut each cookie layer into 8 wedges to yield 16 cookie wedges total.
- Serve: Optionally, lightly dust the cookie wedges with powdered sugar before serving to add a touch of sweetness and festive look.
Notes
- Using light-colored cake pans ensures even baking without over-browning the bottoms.
- Do not overmix the dough to keep the cookies soft and tender.
- Fresh orange peel adds a bright citrus note, so carefully zest to avoid bitterness from the white pith.
- These cookies keep well stored in an airtight container for up to one week.
- For a festive twist, consider adding a drizzle of white chocolate or a sprinkle of chopped nuts.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
