Sunday, October 16, 2016

Stratford Hall Ginger Cookies


    Many different ginger cookies have come out of my oven, but this recipe is one that I keep coming back to. It's a chewy ginger cookie rather than a snap, and it partners as perfectly with a nice cold glass of milk as it does with a cup of hot tea or spiced cider. We like these spicy treats year round at my house, but when fall rolls around it just seems wrong not to have them in the cookie jar.


     The recipe hails from a local landmark, Stratford Hall Plantation. Stratford is the ancestral home of four generations of the Lee family of Virginia (including two signers of The Declaration of Independence), and Birthplace of General Robert E. Lee. The cookies are a tradition at their Candlelight tour at Christmas time, and many folks look forward to sampling their gingery goodness.

    
     We prefer the cookies on the chewy side, but if you'd rather have more of a hard ginger snap perfect for dunking, just forget leave the cookies in the oven for a bit longer. Either way, they'll be grand! :)

Stratford Hall Ginger Cookies
printable recipe available here
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups butter, melted (3 sticks)
1/2 cup molasses
2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
4 cups all purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon ground cloves
granulated sugar (for coating balls of dough)

Directions
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Sift or whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, beat together melted butter, molasses and sugar.
  • Add eggs and mix until combined.
  • Add flour mixture to butter mixture and stir until all flour is incorporated.
  • Refrigerate until firm, about 1-2 hours.
  • Roll walnut-sized balls of dough in granulated sugar.
  • Place on parchment covered baking sheet and bake 8-10 minutes, or until set and lightly browned. If you want a crispier cookie like a ginger snap, just let them stay in the oven a bit longer. If you want a softer cookie, bake until just set.
  • Cool on the cookie sheet a couple of minutes before removing to a cooling rack.
  • Yield: about 5 dozen

24 comments:

  1. They sound great! I was just looking at ginger cookie recipes the other day-enjoy:@)

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  2. Perfect! And, from one of my favorite places in Virginia.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  3. They are definitely a must for the holiday cookie platter.

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  4. Those biscuits seem so tasty and flavourful!
    I wouldn't mind some with my tea ;)

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  5. These look wonderful and are a favorite of mine.

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  6. These look perfect! I'll have compare the ratios to my favorite ginger cookies---I may have found a serious contender :)

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  7. I adore chewy ginger cookies and these sound perfect. Thanks for the great recipe. Pinned!

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  8. I love a good spicy cookie and these sound wonderful, Betty! Thanks for a great recipe!

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  9. Mmmm I LOVE a good chewy ginger cookie, especially at this time of year!

    Sues

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  10. i claim to hate molasses, but i love this kind of cookie! perhaps it's that sugar coating... :)

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  11. I have never baked ginger cookies...but would love to give this a try...and yes, I too like chewy cookies...I wish I could have a couple of these now...
    Have a wonderful week Betty :)

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  12. I much prefer a softer, chewy ginger cookie than a snap. These look fabulous. I was thinking of making something similar...I think I have holiday cookies on the brain already.

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  13. Your cookies looks fabulous! I cannot even remember when was the last time I had any ginger cookies! I wish I have some now to munch on!

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  14. Ginger cookies are among my faves and this is a recipe I have to try. I favor chewy also and have tried many ginger cookies esp at Christmas. So can't wait to bake these. If only there'd be samples now. 😊

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  15. This is so funny, Betty. I was thinking about making my grandmother's old recipe just last night. Yours looks even better! I love the crunch on the outside and chewy inside. I'm drooling and it's only 9 in the morning!

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  16. I love ginger snaps and I always wish they were softer so I know I'll love these. I can't wait to smell them baking.

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  17. I love ginger cookies, and prefer them on the chewy side too. What a great recipe!

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  18. I think there is something addictive in ginger, because when I get started on homemade ginger cookies, I just can't stop! they are one of my holiday favorites. Why do we just have holiday cookies at Christmas time? I could eat them year round.

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  19. I think there is something addictive in ginger, because when I get started on homemade ginger cookies, I just can't stop! they are one of my holiday favorites. Why do we just have holiday cookies at Christmas time? I could eat them year round.

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  20. You know I love these historic recipes! What a great cookie Betty - and lovely photos too. Thanks for sharing and I can't wait to make them!

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  21. These cookies look amazing. I love ginger cookies. The simply remind of the holidays. :) thanks for sharing.

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  22. What a delicious idea! And I love the fact that these ginger cookies are chewy!
    Yum!!!

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  23. Oh my gosh, Betty, I am so in the mood for the holidays now with this cookie recipe! I can just smell the ginger floating through my kitchen already! Thank you for sharing and Merry Christmas and holiday season to you and yours!

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  24. Any cookie with 'ginger' for Christmas is my kind of cookie, Betty! Thanks so much for sharing this rich recipe!!!! Pinned and saved! Merriest of Christmases to you!

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Thanks for stopping by scrambled hen fruit! I appreciate all of your comments and look forward to reading them.

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