Thursday, November 17, 2011

Ginger and Cardamom Cookies - Big, Soft and Chewy


My dad is a huge fan of Ginger Cookies, so I decided I will surprise him with these Ginger and Cardamom Cookies at Thanksgiving.  Plus I needed an excuse to try a few new varieties before the Christmas Cookie rush starts.  I wanted another flavor element in the cookies, so I decided to use cardamom.  Last week a group of us had a good-bye lunch at Wayfare Tavern for Joanna before she flew back to Malaysia, sniff, sniff, and our favorite dessert ended up being a Pear Tart with Cardamom Ice Cream, it's been on my mind ever since.

I hope to recreate the tart for you soon, I'm sure you will fall in love with it too.  I usually stick with the classics for Thanksgiving, with a few new items thrown in; I'm hoping these cookies will be well received.


Ginger and Cardamom Cookies
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups light brown sugar, loosely packed
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
2 ounces crystallized ginger, finely chopped
1/2 cup granulated sugar + 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper or use silpats.

Sift flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, 1/2 teaspoon cardamom, ground ginger and salt into a large bowl.  Set aside.  I ended up using ground cardamom because that was all I could find out here in the boonies where I live, but if you can find the pods that would be even better; you can then grind them yourself.

In a large bowl add the brown sugar and oil and mix till combined.  Add the eggs and mix till combined. Add the flour mixture and mix until combined.  Add the crystallized ginger and mix until combined.  The mixture will seem a bit dry, but it will hold together nicely.

In a small bowl combine the granulated sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cardamom.  Set aside.

Scoop the dough into large tablespoon sized balls and flatten out the balls a bit with your hands, then roll in the sugar mixture.  Place the cookies on a baking sheet 3-inches apart.  Bake for 13 -15 minutes.  Let cool on the pans.  Don't wait for the cookies to be completely set when you pull them out and they will remain chewier.

I got a little carried away and made really large ones so I only got 12 cookies, but you could probably get a few more if you make them a little smaller.


I have Pumpkin Pie with Fresh Whipped Cream, Pear Tart with Dulce De Leche and Cardamom Ice Cream, Dark Chocolate Cream Pie with Chocolate Pearls and these cookies on the dessert menu; do you think I should add another item?  One more item couldn't hurt, could it?

Enjoy,

Gina

59 comments:

  1. These cookies look so delicious, great photos!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ginger cookies are my FAVORITE! Cardamom is my new fascination, which I wish I had discovered much sooner in life. These would make a good ice cream sandwich and a perfect excuse to have them two at a time! (Santa, please bring me bigger jeans for Christmas! Thanks!)

    I am admiring that owl plate. *So* cute!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I've long wanted to try cardamom in a sweet treat (including ice cream) but haven't done it. I love ginger cookies, too, so I am very sure I would like these a lot! Gina, the cookies look so perfect...just like your macarons.

    Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love ginger cookies but have never made them, these look delish and I love your photos.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow, that looks like a fabulous, not overwhelmingly sweet cookie. I live cardamom, I think this would be great with tea. And big, soft and chewy are the best adjectives for cookies, anyways!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I bet the ginger and cardamon are great together in these cookies! Love how big and soft they look!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I seriously love cardamom and of course I like ginger too. So these cookies look REALLY good to me!! By the way... I love your owl plate! My son is into owl after learning about it for a week in school. He'll love this plate. haha.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I am the world's biggest ginger nut. I love it and cardamom comes next. You have seriously made me rethink making more cookies, Gina! That's so sweet and loving making your dad's favs.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks everyone, Nami I got the plate at T.J. Maxx, got a cute matching cup too, I'll email you in a bit.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I think I want to come to your house for Thanksgiving! Hyperventilating right now at the thought of all those scrumptios desserts. I'll make my pumpkin and my apple, but you are the Queen with the chocolate ...ooh and the Pear tart with my favorite dulce de leche! And your cookies...I know they will go over really well. What time do we eat?! ;) xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  11. These sound delicious and how sweet of you to make them for yout dad! What are your classic Thanksgiving cookies?

    ReplyDelete
  12. I adore cardamom. I'm making these cookies for sure. I really want to see that cardamom ice cream. Imagine the ice cream between the cookies. Holy yum!

    ReplyDelete
  13. My dad too love ginger cookies. Can't wait to surprise him with this. He's going to love it!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love chewy spice cookies and I adore cardamom so I know I would love these!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Gina,
    What a dessert menu! I would just eat dessert, forget the turkey. Life is short, eat dessert first, and those luscious cardamon cookies. Yum!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Gina-your cookies with the ginger and cardamom, are seriously droolworthy, yummy, and gorgeous. The photos are stunning, as well!
    Love the crinkle pattern in the cookies, and the pastel colored tea towel, oh, and the milk in the original milk jar, with the straw!
    You think of every itty-bitty detail...splendid, my dear, just like you:DDD

    ReplyDelete
  17. Gina, I think we must be linked telepathically with all the cardamom making an appearance in our posts this week! Although I didn't really have much choice as it was the assigned recipe for French Fridays :).

    As for desserts on Thanksgiving, I don't think you have nearly enough....I mean, you ARE having 300 people over, yes? LOL, you overachiever, you really should add 10 more desserts to your buffet and forego the savory stuff. Hehe.

    Btw, that owl plate rocks!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I am too so in love with those big and chewy ginger cookies.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I love anything ginger; sure this would hit the spot.
    Rita

    ReplyDelete
  20. LOVE how big these cookies are! These are a MUST make very soon since they are one of my favorite cookies, especially around the holiday season. Have a great weeeknd!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Never too many cookies! :)
    I adore ginger cookies. These look so fluffy! I'm very tempted to give them a try this weekend..

    ReplyDelete
  22. These are brilliant :) Definitely add them to your holiday cookie list. I bet your dad went nuts. Buzzed!

    ReplyDelete
  23. These look wonderful. Cardamom is one of my favorite spices and it blends so well with ginger. Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Just made them and they taste amazing! Only had to make two slight adjustments for altitude. My house now smells dangerously like Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  25. These cookies are wonderful, and oh how I love both ginger and cardamom...beautiful treats with lovely fall flavors! I think with your list you have aced it in the desserts section :)
    Hugs, and wishing you a fantastic weekend

    ReplyDelete
  26. The addition of cardamom in these cookies must be so wonderful! Looks delicious.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Oh, I adore ginger cookies...and the addition of cardamom takes these to a whole other level of deliciousness! Wishing you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving, too...I'm grateful to have such wonderful foodie friends like you! xo

    ReplyDelete
  28. It just occurred to me that I have t start baking cookies. May give this a try as I love all the warm spices used in it. Have a lovely weekend :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. These look good Gina, I'll pass on the turkey and double up on the desserts! Now we need to schedule a 'holiday' lunch;-)

    ReplyDelete
  30. Wow, these sound amazing. I personally love a cookie with a crackled appearance. In my opinion they are delicious.

    Maria @ A Platter of Figs

    ReplyDelete
  31. Thank everyone, hope you enjoy them.

    ReplyDelete
  32. hi gina! cant believ it's now been a week that i've been back. i really love chewy cookies. can't wait to try out this recipe. i have not really bake using cardamoms before. am missing our fun time. hugs jo

    ReplyDelete
  33. Mmmmmm… Looks gorgeous! I would like to strike this off my list too. Should try and bake this soon.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Big, soft and chewy - that's a cookie! These cookies look absolutely delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Oh yum yum...Love your recipe for these delicious cookies! thank you for sharing your stunning photos and this awesome post! Have a great week ahead and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

    ReplyDelete
  36. I'm just starting out to make these. The list of ingredients says baking powder but the directions say baking soda. I can't remember what each one does... hmmmm what to do...

    ReplyDelete
  37. Thanks Anonymous, I've fixed the typo. The ingredient is baking soda. I try and read everything several times, but sometimes a typo still gets by me.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Yum-o Gina! Sorry I've been so MIA lately.. I promise I still check out your treats though :) everything looks fabulous!!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Mmm... I love these cookies with ginger and cardamom, a perfect match. Already bookmarked to make these for the coming holiday. :)

    ReplyDelete
  40. Oh my goodness, these look amazing, all crackly and chewy, yum. Ginger cookies are my favorite but I've never tried cardamon in them. thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  41. These are a glorious creation. They would disappear in minutes from my kitchen. I love to visit here. I never leave empty handed and always consider time here well spent. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

    ReplyDelete
  42. i made these just now and not only does my kitchen/house smell absolutely delicious, the cookies are just SCRUMPTIOUS. Thanks Gina!

    ReplyDelete
  43. The spice combination is a winner all the way! Your cookies look straight out of a fancy bakery catalog. I'm sure everyone loved them. How lucky is your dad? :)

    ReplyDelete
  44. i just made these & they're so delicious! thanks for sharing the recipe! i love anything with cardamom.

    ReplyDelete
  45. I just made these today for the Blogger Cookie Swap and added a bit of candied orange peel and they are fabulous! Thanks so much for a great recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  46. I just made these and they are a hit with my entire family! They're chewy complex, yet delicate little morsels of ginger cookie heaven.

    ReplyDelete
  47. I was lucky to get to receive these from Spcookie queen herself. Gina, they were delicious and I can wait to make them at home. Very chewy and light.

    ReplyDelete
  48. I have now made these twice (once with ice cream as a T-Day dessert, and again for Xmas eve snacks), and they are AMAZING!!! House smells amazing to boot. They are such a big hit. I will be making them for years to come. THANKS!

    Note to anyone making these: lightly flour your hands as you roll these into balls. These have some messy prep, but MAN are they worth it!

    ReplyDelete
  49. Glad you like them Sara, I have made them a couple of times too, I will try your flouring the hands trick next time for less mess. I used a glass to flatten them the first time, that works too, but them you have an extra glass to wash. Either way worked good though.

    ReplyDelete
  50. These are amazing. easy, quick and delicious. Ta

    ReplyDelete
  51. Thanks Anonymous for the feedback!

    ReplyDelete
  52. I made these cookies last night and I used applesauce instead of vegetable oil - BIG mistake, I think. They taste great, but they have this bizarrely tough texture, like eating beef jerky. Today they are even chewier. Next time will definitely use oil, have learnt my lesson. :/

    ReplyDelete
  53. This recipe works out nicely! Making my second batch as we speak. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for letting me know Vanessa. So glad you liked them.

      Delete
  54. I've been meaning to make these for awhile. And Oh MY GAWD- these are so delicious! I chopped some Trader Joes chocolate covered crystallized ginger vs just regular ginger. And I only baked them for 10 mins, then let sit in the pan for 3 mins. The house smells amazing, my hands from rolling the dough in the sugar and cardamom smell AMAZING, the cookie taste is AMAZING. Terrific recipe, thank you SO much !!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So glad you liked them. I need to find some of that chocolate covered ginger since I'm getting ready to start making Christmas cookies that sounds like a great addition.

      Delete