Christmas Countdown: Week 10

I am finally getting around to posting about Week 10 cookies! We made Ginger Quakes last weekend. Maybe it's taken so long to post about them because we weren't all that excited about these. The description said they were "similar to gingersnaps in flavor, but softer and chewier." I thought they were so so. Turns out Don likes the "snap" part of Gingersnaps so wasn't happy about the "softer and chewier." But still, cookies are better than no cookies!

Ginger Quakes are from the same source as "cookie shop chocolate chip cookies" The Good Cookie: Over 250 Delicious Recipes from Simple to Sublime by Tish Boyle.

Ginger Quakes

2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 tablespoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

2 teaspoons rendered bacon fact (optional) (this may have been my mistake, omitting)

1 large egg

1/2 cup unsulphured molasses

2 tablespoons finely minced fresh ginger

1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest

1/2 cup turbinado or course sugar, for coating

1. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350°. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ground ginger, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.

3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, using the paddle attachment, beat the butter and brown sugar at medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the bacon fat, if using. Beat in the egg, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Add the molasses, ginger, and orange zest and mix until blended. Add the dry ingredients at low speed, mixing just until combined.

4. Place the turbinado or coarse sugar in a shallow dish. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls. Roll each ball in the sugar, coating it completely. Arrange the balls, 2 inches apart, on the prepared baking sheets.

5. Bake the cookies, 1 sheet at a time, for 8 to 10 minutes, until the edges are set and the tops are cracked but the centers are still soft. Transfer the cookies to wire racks and cool completely.

What's your favorite Christmas Cookie?