Description
Classic lemon ginger cookies highlight zesty citrus with warm spice notes from fresh ginger. Home bakers can quickly whip these delightful treats for special gatherings or afternoon tea enjoyment.
Ingredients
Scale
Primary Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups (210g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
Sweeteners and Sugars:
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup (50g) brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for rolling)
Flavor Enhancers and Spices:
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1/4 cup crystallized ginger, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Using an electric mixer, blend butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until creamy and aerated.
- Incorporate egg, freshly grated lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract into the butter mixture until smooth.
- Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and ground ginger in a separate mixing bowl.
- Gradually incorporate dry ingredients into wet mixture, stirring until a uniform dough forms.
- Gently fold finely chopped crystallized ginger into the cookie dough, distributing evenly.
- Shape dough into small spherical portions, approximately 1-inch in diameter.
- Roll each dough ball in additional granulated sugar, ensuring complete coverage.
- Arrange sugar-coated dough balls on prepared baking sheet, spacing them to allow spreading.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, watching for light golden edges as doneness indicator.
- Allow cookies to rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes to stabilize, then transfer to wire cooling rack.
- Let cookies cool completely to achieve optimal texture and flavor development.
Notes
- Boost the lemon flavor by adding an extra teaspoon of lemon zest for a more intense citrusy punch.
- Swap crystallized ginger with fresh grated ginger for a sharper, more vibrant spice profile.
- Make these cookies gluten-free by substituting all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days to maintain their soft, chewy texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 12 mg