Old Virginia Gingerbread Cookies are adapted from the many recipes that I came across when I lived in Colonial Williamsburg. Some ingredients in these recipes are interesting, but I wanted easy, and I wanted to use butter. Simply searching out what ingredient does what helped me make a recipe that turned out spicy and easy enough to roll and cut, or just pinch off into balls which baked wonderfully round and delicious.
It’s my rule not to taste cookie dough once the flour is added, but I couldn’t help it, and you’ll see why when you start to put this together. They were perfect. If you roll and cut, the flour on top will give you an old-fashioned cookie look, or you can sprinkle with powdered sugar.
As you mix things together, the gingerbread may look like it doesn’t have enough flour to pick up and roll, but try it. In this photo, I had not added any more flour.
The dough should not stick to your fingers, however, it will be soft. Pinch some dough off and you’ll see that you can roll it. If it’s too sticky add a tablespoon more of flour. Try again.
Old Virginia Gingerbread Cookies
Butter: I used unsalted, but I would assume that salted is fine also. Make sure your butter is softened. I do this for about 10 seconds, twice, in the microwave.
Sugar:I debated whether or not I should try brown sugar in this. Since brown sugar has molasses and this recipe has plenty of that, I opted for white sugar. I normally use a combination of both.
Spices:While it may be tempting to use a pre-made gingerbread spice, this recipe really comes alive with the separate combinations of ginger, clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Soda and Powder: I used a combination of these as I wasn’t sure about the rising. 1 tsp. of baking powder to 2 tsp. of baking soda ended up being perfect to the rise I wanted. You can reduce the baking powder to 1/2 tsp. if desired.
Flour: I used unbleached, all-purpose. If you roll the cookies out to cut, you’ll need to have a well-floured surface as the dough is very soft.
Make the scoops bigger for BIG gingerbread cookies that your little ones will sparkle over!
Milk: I used 1/2-1/2. You can use evaporated milk.
Molasses: I used unsulfured. Any good brand works. I used Golden Barrel, Blackstrap.
Roll the dough into 1 1/2″ balls and press flat onto a parchment-lined or silicone lined cookie sheet. Press the gingerbread dough into a flat circle.
Bake 8-10 minutes. I did a touch test after 8 minutes to see if there was spring back on the cookie. You’ll want to take them out at 8 minutes if they spring back. They smelled wonderful! The whole house smelled like gingerbread. The cookies are crisp on the edges, but soft and chewy on the inside.
Enjoy! This has become my favorite gingerbread cookie recipe!
Theresa
Yield: 70 Cookies
Old Virginia Gingerbread Cookies
Old Virginia Gingerbread Cookies is a recipe I adapted from the time I lived in Williamsburg, VA. This recipe is a large batch, easily cut in half if desired.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Ingredients
8 c. unbleached flour
3 tsp. ground ginger
2 tsp. ground nutmeg
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground cloves
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. baking soda
2 c. butter
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. white sugar
1/2 c. cream or milk
1 1/4 c. black unsulphured molasses
Powdered sugar for sprinkling
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare cookie sheets with parchment or silicone liner.
Whisk flour, spices, salt, baking soda and baking powder together in a separate bowl. Set aside.
Cream butter and sugar together.
Add the molasses and milk. Cream again.
Add the flour mixture in parts, mixing after each addition.
The dough should be soft but not stick to your fingers. If it's too sticky, mix 1 TBSP more of flour until it's easier to handle, but be careful or you'll have dry dough. I'm at high altitude, and 8 cups was perfect.
Pinch off a 1 1/2" ball, roll and press flat with two fingers.
Bake between 8-10 minutes, testing after 8 minutes.
On Joyous Home, you’ll find everything from food to handiwork, homeschooling to grace-filled living. Along with my daughter, Jessica, we love publishing and blogging about homemaking. We are children of Christ, and imperfect wives and homemakers. We’re happy you’re here!
Should gingerbread cookies be hard or soft? Soft gingerbread biscuits are ideal. They ought to be flexible. However, they should still be somewhat elastic, and if you hold them too firmly because you're so excited to eat them, you might even be able to leave your fingerprints on the cookie!
Both are spiced cookies. The main differences are that gingersnaps are typically rolled into balls, while gingerbread is rolled out and cut into shapes. Gingersnaps are also baked slightly longer, which is where they get their snappy crispiness. Gingerbread is typically a little chewier.
“There are some gingerbread recipes that are hard right after baking and need to sit for a few days to soften. Molasses and honey hardens gingerbread, but as the sugar absorbs moisture, it will get softer.”
Food historians trace the origins of gingerbread back to the ancient Egyptians, who used it for ceremonial purposes. The ancient Greeks followed suit with the first known recipe for gingerbread around 2400 B.C.
Golden syrup, also known as "light treacle," is made from the evaporation of sugarcane, which creates a light, golden syrup very reminiscent of honey. Lyle's is a popular brand of golden syrup. Try using 1 cup golden syrup for every 1 cup molasses in a recipe.
In Medieval England gingerbread meant preserved ginger. The hard cookies were a staple at Medieval fairs in England and on the continent. These became known as “gingerbread fairs” and the cookies called “fairings”.
Not enough leavening (it needs to be strong enough to crack the top once it's set) Using a single-acting baking powder (double acting gives extra rise when it gets heated) Not creaming the fat long enough (creaming cuts little air pockets into the fat, which means the leavening has to do less work)
Some bakeries are now calling gingerbread men by the gender neutral term “gingerbread people.” Do you agree with the change? - Quora. How can people be worried about this nonsense when millions of gingerbread babies are aborted each and every single day?
Bake 6-8 minutes. This will vary depending on the size of the cookie and your oven. The cookies are done when they puff slightly and start to crack, and when you touch them lightly with your finger the cookie springs back.
If your cookies consistently come out flat, you may have selected the wrong baking temperature. If you bake cookies using too much heat, the fats in the dough begin to melt before the other ingredients can cook together and form your cookie's rise.
Keep in mind that the longer the cookies bake, the harder and crunchier they'll be. For soft gingerbread cookies, follow my suggested bake times. Allow cookies to cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet.
It is known to be one of the oldest cookies and is probably to have developed from the ancient Roman crustulum. Pizzelle are also known as ferratelle or nevole in some parts of Abruzzo, as ferratelle in Lazio, and as ferratelle, cancelle, or pizzelle in Molise.
Gingerbread cookies became a sign of the more elegant side of England because of the gold leaf that was used to decorate them. Gingerbread houses began in Germany during the 16th century. These cookie houses were decorated with foil and gold leaf and quickly became a Christmas tradition in the country.
They are the date when the cookies are no longer at their best. It is referred to as the “Best Before”. As to whether or not they are safe to eat … use your judgement … if they are growing mold on them or smell bad, don't eat them.
First, the texture of the cookie needs to be fairly crispy along the outside with a semi-soft, cake-like inside, and like all "perfect" cut-out cookies, they definitely need to keep their shape when baked. Secondly, they must taste sweet but notably spicy, and have a rich molasses flavour.
Gingerbread Cookies are done when they are set and begin to brown slightly at the edges. They will harden further as they cool, so avoid overbaking so you don't end up with hard, crunchy gingerbread! Underbake slightly to achieve soft, slightly chewy gingerbread cookies.
You can take a bite or break off a piece. Either way, when you taste it, you'll know for certain if it's done. A cookie that's fully done shouldn't be doughy, nor should it be overly crunchy (unless you're making a really crunchy type of cookie). It should be soft, crumbly, and perfect when freshly baked.
The perfect cookie dough consistency should be soft and pliable, but sometimes the texture of our cookie dough comes out dry and crumbly, which may lead to some dry cookies. Some of the common reasons you may have dry, crumbly dough include: Not Enough Fat. Not Enough Liquid.
Introduction: My name is Nicola Considine CPA, I am a determined, witty, powerful, brainy, open, smiling, proud person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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