Crisp or Chewy Whole Grain Gingersnaps
Or How I Set Out to Use Up My Rye Flour and Found the Most Amazing Whole Grain Gingersnaps!
Then ate them all up before blogging. Then baked them again… decorated for Christmas.
This all started more than six months ago when I decided to try to use some of the old neglected food items in my pantry. One of these was a 25 lb bag of rye flour–that’s a lot of rye flour! I went in search of recipes, never expecting to find a cookie.
Now despite the fact that they are loaded with whole grain, these cookies are seriously chewy and delicious. When I first baked them, they were disappearing so fast that I made sure to set aside a few for pictures the next day. When the next day rolled around, I was a little hungry and before I knew it I’d taken a bite. “Oh no!” I thought, then just gave up and ate the rest. You know what they say about being your own worst enemy.
Later I saw a lovely decorating idea for a (different) gingersnap and the light bulb went on. Why not combine the two! Not being a whiz with a piping bag (okay, being seriously klutzy with a piping bag), I simplified the design. In the end, think I prefer the taste of the cookies unfrosted, but they do look festive!
Whole Grain Gingersnaps
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 large egg
- 2 Tablespoons molasses
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1/4 cup crystallized ginger diced, optional but really try to use it
- 2/3 cup rye flour
- sugar for rolling optional
Instructions
- Cream the butter, sugar, baking soda, salt and spices in a medium mixing bowl. Beat in the egg and molasses, scraping the bowl. The mixture will look curdled, but that’s okay.
- Combine 1-2 T of the wheat flour with the crystallized ginger in a mini food processor or coffee/spice mill, and process until the ginger is finely chopped. Add this mixture to the bowl, along with all the remaining flour, beating until smooth. Cover the bowl, and refrigerate the dough for 1 hour or overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Lightly grease 2 baking sheets or line with parchment paper.
- Roll a tablespoon of dough into a ball then coat with sugar if desired. Place on prepared sheets allowing enough space for (substantial) spread. Bake the cookies, until they’re an even, deep-golden brown, 14-16 minutes. At 14 minutes they will still have some significant chewiness; at 16 minutes, they’ll be almost entirely crisp.
- Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool for 5 minutes on the pan before transferring them to a rack to finish cooling.
Notes
Nutrition
- Extra Milk? Make Homemade Feta Cheese
- Bilzzard White Chocolate Martini
Now those do look perfect – I love ginger cookies and I’m impressed with your icing and I would never have thought to use such a robust flour.
merry Christmas and a Happy New Year x
Thanks Clare. A belated Merry Christmas to you and best wishes for a Happy New Year!
Merry Christmas Inger!!!xxx
Same to you Gloria!
Your decorated cookies are so pretty, but I think they’d be delicious either way.
Thanks Beth. And best wishes for a great holiday season!
Hi Inger, these cookies of yours are very healthy and yummy too. Great to have it with a cup of hot tea!!! Here’s wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and may this festival bring abundant joy and happiness in your life!
Thanks! And a very Merry Christmas to you too!
25 pounds of rye flour??? And I thought I had Cranberry Sauce problems!
Your cookies do look so festive with the frosting, Inger. I’m not sure I’ve ever tried Gingersnaps with whole grains before. After seeing these and reading your post, I suppose it’s high time, I give them a try!
Thank you so much for sharing, Inger!!! Just in case I don’t make it back here before Christmas, I do wish you and your family a Joyous Christmas!
P.S. Now you have me curious about rye flour recipes. Rye Crackers perhaps?
lol! Mostly I have been doing this (easy) rye bread (https://artofnaturalliving.com/2013/05/09/give-homemade-bread-a-second-chance-easy-rustic-rye/ ) but rye crackers sounds like a good idea. Merry Christmas to you and yours too Louise!
Crystallized ginger sounds like a great addition to these cookies, Inger. I have been chewing on crystallized ginger for airsickness control on planes lately. Works great!
I’ll have to try the ginger for motion sickness–what a great tip! Enjoy your holidays Kathy!
One of my favourite holiday treats. These look so beautiful and festive.
Thanks Angie. And I agree that molasses cookies are really a classic!
Great looking cookies!
Thanks!
2 batches in a short time is a great sign that I need to make this recipe too! I don’t think a Christmas cookie plate is complete with ginger cookies.
Using 100% whole grain can sometimes be quite challenging, so I was really happy when I tasted these.
one of my favorite cookies. Love the format of your recipes
You know these and peanut butter cookies are my big weakness! I was happy to find a recipe plugin that did nutrition information since I “try” to be a bit healthier!