Lemon Ginger Cookies Recipe: How to Make Ginger Cookies
Written by MasterClass
Last updated: Apr 25, 2022 • 2 min read
Pair lemon ginger cookies with hot tea or a steaming cup of coffee for a sweet and spicy treat.
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What Are Lemon Ginger Cookies?
Lemon ginger cookies are sweet and spiced sugar cookies that take their flavor from fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and ginger.
The exact ratio of ingredients will impact the texture of lemon ginger cookies. For example, the combination of granulated sugar and baking soda in a cookie recipe results in a thin and crispy cookie. On the other hand, brown sugar plus baking powder makes for soft and chewy cookies. A combination of granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, and baking soda will create a chewy cookie with crisp edges.
3 Types of Ginger to Use in Lemon Ginger Cookies
Various ginger preparations yield different results in baking recipes, such as in lemon ginger cake or lemon ginger cookies. Here are three types of ginger you can use in baked goods:
- 1. Crystallized ginger: Resembling a gummy candy with a sugar coating, crystallized ginger is candied ginger with an additional sugar coating. It imparts a chewy texture and sweet flavor to foods. If you plan to use the ingredient in cookie recipes, chop the crystallized ginger into small pieces for even distribution throughout the cookie dough. Note that crystallized ginger differs from candied ginger, which comes in sugar syrup.
- 2. Fresh ginger: Cooking mellows out the flavor of fresh ginger—for this reason, you have to use more fresh ginger than you would ground ginger to achieve the same level of flavor in baking recipes. Try a combination—use ground ginger to anchor the fresh ginger—or find a recipe that specifically calls for one or the other.
- 3. Ground ginger: A common pairing with other warm spices, such as ground cinnamon and clove, ground ginger is an accessible ginger choice for baking. Ground ginger is typically widely available, contributes a concentrated ginger flavor, and disperses evenly in a cookie dough or other flour mixture.
Lemon Ginger Cookies Recipe
makes
2-3 dozenprep time
20 mintotal time
35 mincook time
15 minIngredients
- 1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 2
Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- 3
In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground ginger, and crystallized ginger.
- 4
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar for 7 minutes.
- 5
Add the egg, followed by the egg yolk, mixing between each addition.
- 6
With the mixer on medium speed, beat the eggs and the butter and sugar mixture for 10 minutes until it becomes light and fluffy.
- 7
Add the lemon zest and vanilla extract.
- 8
With the mixer on low speed, add the flour and ginger mixture.
- 9
With a small cookie scoop or spoon, form doughballs.
- 10
Place the doughballs on the lined cookie sheets, leaving enough space between each one for spreading.
- 11
Bake the cookies for 12–15 minutes.
- 12
Cool the cookies on a wire rack.
- 13
In a small bowl, combine the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and whole milk.
- 14
With a spoon, drizzle the glaze over the cooled cookies. Alternatively, carefully dip each cookie (dome down), into the glaze.
- 15
Let the glaze set on the cookies before serving or storing them in an airtight container.
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