Snowflake Ginger Cookies with Royal Icing
Snowflake Ginger Cookies
10 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
¾ cup packed brown sugar
⅔ cup molasses
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
3½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 Tbsp ground ginger
½ Tbsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground allspice
½ tsp ground cloves
Beat the butter in a stand mixer for 1 minute until smooth and creamy. Add the brown sugar and molasses and beat until fully combined and fluffy. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. Next, beat in egg and vanilla for 2 full minutes.
In a separate bowl, stir together remaining ingredients. Slowly mix dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Dough will be thick and sticky. Divide dough in half and place each onto large pieces of plastic wrap. Wrap tightly and pat into discs. Refrigerate 3 hours. After chilling dough, heat oven to 350°F. Line 2-3 large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Remove 1 disc of chilled dough from the refrigerator. Generously flour a work surface, as well as your hands and the rolling pin. Roll out disc until ¼-inch thick, adding flour as needed to prevent sticking. Cut into shapes. Place shapes 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets. Re-roll dough scraps until all the dough is shaped. Repeat with second disc of dough.
Bake cookies 8-11 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet. Transfer to cooling rack to cool completely. Decorate as desired with royal icing, recipe as follows.
Royal Icing
3 oz pasteurized egg whites
¼ teaspoon salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp lemon juice or ¼ tsp cream of tartar
4 cups powdered sugar
In a stand mixer, combine egg whites, salt, vanilla, and lemon juice or cream of tartar. Beat until frothy. Sift powdered sugar into bowl and mix on low speed until sugar is incorporated and mixture is shiny. Turn speed to high and beat until mixture forms stiff, glossy peaks, 5-7 minutes.
Transfer icing to pastry bag or plastic sandwich bag with the tip of a bottom corner cut off and pipe as desired.
Adapted from Alton Brown