Soft ginger cookies

   I found this recipe when a good friend of mine had to prepare something sweet for her Multicultural Christmas representing the UK and I got the "ginger cookies" recommended by an English friend. Oh, it couldn't have been a better idea! 

   I have to say from the get go that I'm not a huge cookie person because Romanians love the creamy cakes and we're not used to eating cookies with tea or something else so we don't make them at home either. I only started getting into them since my husband received a family recipe book for Christmas cookies and we're baking those every year. Mighty great cookies! 

   Therefore, the ginger cookies were something totally new and exotic for me, but I decided to see it as a challenge that my friend and I accomplished for sure! These cookies are so delicious you'd LOVE to have them on your Christmas table and you'd be munching on them after Christmas is done if you have leftovers. So, naturally, I had to share the recipe with you guys! It's pretty easy peasy, so let's get started! :)

Ingredients for 24 cookies:

- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

- 2 teaspoons ground ginger 

- 1 teaspoon baking powder 

- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

- 1/4 teaspoon salt

- 1 cup white sugar

- 3/4 cup margarine, softened

- 1 egg

- 1 tablespoon water

- 1/4 cup molasses

- 2 tablespoons white sugar

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 175 degrees C. 

2. Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.

3. In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. 

4. Beat in the egg, then stir in the water and molasses. Gradually stir the sifted ingredients into the molasses mixture. 

5. Shape dough into walnut sized balls, and roll them in the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. Place the cookies 5 cm apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet, and flatten slightly. The cookies are going to grow quite a bit so make sure you're respecting the distance rule! 

6. Bake for about 20 minutes in the preheated oven until they are turning slightly brown (uncooked dough will be rather white and VERY soft to the touch). 

7. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. 

8. Store in an airtight container.  

Bon appetit and Merry Christmas! :)