Every cookie exchange, cookie swap, or cookie tray should include a gingerbread cookie, and this chocolate chip cookie version is one everyone will enjoy.
It’s a big day here at Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck. Not only is it the beginning of #ChristmasCookiesWeek but it’s also the day that I share my recipe for the #FBLCookieExchange with y’all. What does that mean for you? It means that not only do you get the opportunity to see my amazing Crystallized Gingerbread Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe, but you also get to see the cookie recipes from several other amazing food bloggers as well.
#ChristmasCookiesWeek is an event I am taking part in with several other food bloggers. We’ll be sharing cookie recipes each day of this week, which are perfect for your holiday cookie exchange, swap, or platter. Nielsen-Massey, our #ChristmasCookiesWeek sponsor, is giving one winner a set of their pure flavors: 2-oz each of Orange, Lemon, Peppermint, Almond, Chocolate, Coffee, Rose Water, and Orange Blossom Water. Make sure to enter the contest below, for your chance to win this great prize package from Nielsen-Massey.
The #FBLCookieExchange is an event I first took part in last year when I made these Sugar Plum Fairy Holiday Cookies. After making a holiday donation to one of two selected charities, each participating food blogger is tasked with sending a dozen of their freshly baked cookies to three different pre-chosen food bloggers, and in return, they each receive a dozen cookies from three other pre-chosen food blogger participants. Pictured below are the delicious cookies I received this year in the cookie exchange.
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- Cranberry Bliss Cookies
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- Gingerbread Thumbprint Cookies
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- Mint Cheesecake Cookies
Cranberry Bliss Cookies from The Emotional Baker
Gingerbread Thumbprint Cookies from Fantastical Sharing of Recipes
Mint Cheesecake Cookies from Cook with 5 Kids
Now, let’s talk a little about these cookies. When it comes to cookies, I typically may eat one or two of them, and then I’m out. I pretty much always eat one cookie just to make sure that they are actually edible and then I give the rest of them away. With these cookies, I just couldn’t keep myself from coming back for more. I swear, I think I ate half of the batch all by myself. It’s probably a good thing that I had to send the other half to my lucky cookie exchange recipients. If you’re looking for a cookie that everyone will totally fall in love with, this is the one y’all.
Each day of this week, I’ll be sharing a helpful tip to help y’all totally up your cookie exchange, swap, or platter game. Today’s tip is to always include a recipe along with your cookies when exchanging or swapping them. That way, if the recipient falls head-over-heels in love with your recipe, they will have the recipe on hand to make them for themselves later on. It also doesn’t hurt to include a Christmas tea towel, ornament, or some other little festive gift along with your cookies when sending them. The recipient will think back on your cookies for years to come each time they set eyes on your thoughtful holiday gift.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 Cups Unsalted Butter, Room Temperature
- 1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar (Additional for Rolling Cookies)
- 1 Cup Light Brown Sugar, Packed
- 1/2 Cup Molasses
- 2 Eggs
- 1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
- 4 Teaspoons Baking Soda
- 2 Teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
- 2 Teaspoons Ground Ginger
- 1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1/2 Teaspoon Finely Ground Black Pepper
- 4 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1/3 Cup Finely Chopped Crystallized Ginger
- 1 (10-oz.) Bag Semi-Sweet Miniature Chocolate Chips
Directions:
Cookies:
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugars together for 3 minutes on medium speed.
- Add the molasses; mix for 30 seconds.
- Add each egg one at a time; mix 30 seconds after the addition of each egg.
- Add the vanilla; mix for 30 seconds.
- Add the baking soda, cinnamon, ground ginger, salt, and black pepper; mix for 30 seconds.
- Add the flour, one cup at a time; mix until just incorporated
- Use a silicone spatula to fold the chopped crystallized ginger and the chocolate chips into the cookie batter.
- Refrigerate for 1 hour.
Bake:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Pour some sugar into a small bowl.
- Use a cookie scoop to form even amounts of dough, roll them into a ball using the palms of your hands, and then roll each ball in the granulated sugar.
- Place each sugar-coated cookie onto a Silpat or parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 9 minutes.
- Carefully transfer the cookies to a baking rack to cool completely before storing them.
Suggestions:
- This recipe will yield approximately 5 dozen cookies.
- When adding the crystallized sugar and chocolate chips, you will have to use your muscles to make sure that they are evenly incorporated.
- These cookies will spread some but not too much. You can easily place twelve cookies on each baking sheet.
- Store these cookies in an airtight container. Cover them with a piece of wax paper and then place a slice of bread on top of the wax paper. The bread will help to keep the cookies moist.
Improvements:
- Add 1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves to the cookie batter.
- Before baking, press a few extra pieces of finely chopped crystallized ginger on top of each cookie.
- If you plan to mail these cookies, I suggest using a durable plastic container to package them in. Not only will it help protect the cookies during travel but the recipient will be able to use it over and over again in the future for food storage.
- Instead of placing chocolate chips in the cookies, melt the chips with a little bit of vegetable shortening and then dip half of each cookie in the melted chocolate.
- CLICK HERE to check out all of our past cookie recipes. Don’t forget to check out our Christmas cookies section.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 Cups Unsalted Butter, Room Temperature
- 1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar (Additional for Rolling Cookies)
- 1 Cup Light Brown Sugar, Packed
- 1/2 Cup Molasses
- 2 Eggs
- 1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
- 4 Teaspoons Baking Soda
- 2 Teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
- 2 Teaspoons Ground Ginger
- 1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1/2 Teaspoon Finely Ground Black Pepper
- 4 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1/3 Cup Finely Chopped Crystallized Ginger
- 1 (10-oz.) Bag Semi-Sweet Miniature Chocolate Chips
Directions:
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugars together for 3 minutes on medium speed.
- Add the molasses; mix for 30 seconds.
- Add each egg one at a time; mix 30 seconds after the addition of each egg.
- Add the vanilla; mix for 30 seconds.
- Add the baking soda, cinnamon, ground ginger, salt, and black pepper; mix for 30 seconds.
- Add the flour, one cup at a time; mix until just incorporated
- Use a silicone spatula to fold the chopped crystallized ginger and the chocolate chips into the cookie batter.
- Refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Pour some sugar into a small bowl.
- Use a cookie scoop to form even amounts of dough, roll them into a ball using the palms of your hands, and then roll each ball in the granulated sugar.
- Place each sugar-coated cookie onto a Silpat or parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 9 minutes.
- Carefully transfer the cookies to a baking rack to cool completely before storing them.
PIN THIS RECIPE
Don’t let this recipe slip away. How often do you find a recipe intriguing, yet forget where to find it when you finally get the hankering to make it? Instead of digging through old posts or wandering aimlessly around on the internet, why not Pin this recipe to Pinterest where you can find it when you eventually need it? Simply Pin the image above and you’ll have it when that time comes. You can follow us HERE on Pinterest or simply click HERE to find all of our pin-worthy recipes.
Coconut Grinchy Christmas Breakfast Cookies
Old-Fashioned Jubilee Jumbles Cookies
Chocolate Fudge Brownie Oatmeal M&M Cookies
TASTE OF HOME FEATURED RECIPE
This “Crystallized Gingerbread Chocolate Chip Cookies” recipe has been featured in Taste of Home. CLICK HERE to see the recipe.
Christmas is a time for family, friends, and delicious holiday cookies. From classic butter cookies to iced gingerbread cookies, this list of ultimate Christmas cookie recipes has something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for festive colors, unique seasonal ingredients, or just a cookie that’s super easy to make, these Christmas cookie recipes will help you find the perfect cookie for the season. CLICK HERE for the recipes.
#FLBCookieExchange
To take part in the #FBLCookieExchange, each blogger was asked to make a donation to one of the two charities below in order to spread the love this holiday season. Please consider making your own donation to help these two worthy causes this holiday season.
- No Kid Hungry is an organization dedicated to ending childhood hunger. They believe no child should go to bed hungry. CLICK HERE to sponsor a meal for a child in need!
- RescuesForJoJo is an organization that was founded to help rescue shelter dogs in need. They focus on shelter “undesirables;” medically fragile, injured, abused, and breed or color-specific dogs who would, otherwise, be looked over and euthanized through no fault of their own. CLICK HERE to donate and help save a dog in need.
Click on the links below to check out other festive Christmas Cookies Week recipes.
- Alfajores (Dulce de Leche Sandwich Cookies) by Caroline’s Cooking
- Candy Cane Tassies by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies by The Bitter Side of Sweet
- Crystallized Gingerbread Chocolate Chip Cookies by Faith, Hope, Love, and Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
- Dutch Speculaas Cookies by Palatable Pastime
- Easy Sugar Cookies by Bear & Bug Eats
- Empire Cookies by Red Cottage Chronicles
- Gingerbread Gooey Butter Cookies by Making Miracles
- Gingerbread Men Cookies by The Freshman Cook
- Graham Cracker Chocolate Chip Cookies by Books n Cooks
- Holiday Sugar Sprinkle Butter Cookies by Family Around the Table
- Italian Rainbow Cookies by Everyday Eileen
- Loaded Festive Chocolate Chip Cookies by Daily Dish Recipes
- Makrut Macaroons by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
- Mocha Filled Sandwich Cookies by Jolene’s Recipe Journal
- Oatmeal Raisin Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
- Pecan Caramel Turtle Bars by Tip Garden
- Pepparkakor (Swedish Ginger Cookies) by The Redhead Baker
- Peppermint Candy Canes by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Peppermint Crinkle Cookies by Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
- Peppermint Macarons by House of Nash Eats
- Peppermint Mocha Shortbread Cookies by Cooking with Carlee
- Peppermint Shortbreads by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Pistachio Wedding Cookies by Soulfully Made
- Raspberry Filled Coconut Snowflakes by Making The Most of Naptime
- Raspberry Thumbprint Cookies by Simple and Savory
- Rum Logs by Corn, Beans Pigs and Kids
- Vanilla Bean Pizzelles by Love and Confections
- White Chocolate Dipped Ginger Cookies by Kate’s Recipe Box
Make sure to come back each day of this week to see more great Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Christmas Cookies Week recipes.
Day 1: Crystallized Gingerbread Chocolate Chip Cookies
Day 2: Cranberry Orange Cookies
Day 3: Heavenly Almond Cookies
Day 4: Mexican Chocolate Chip Crinkle Cookies
Day 5: Lemon Ginger Crinkle Cookies
