These Chewy Gingerbread Cookies have a delightfully complex flavor because of the use of both fresh and ground ginger, and a touch of sophistication, thanks to the zesty lemon glaze. It’s an easy, irresistible holiday treat! {Jump to Recipe}
Growing up, my grandmother would bake hundreds of molasses cookies for the holidays. She had a large family, and most of her kids had several kids of their own, too, so she had an impressive crowd to feed come Christmas time. Watching her roll out so many of those comforting cookies had a hypnotic effect on me, and I always stood close for the chance to snatch raw cookie dough. Those cookies–they were just as good raw as they were baked!
I rarely bake with molasses, but when I do, it reminds me of my grandma. It’s such a nostalgic ingredient to me! The aroma of it alone brings me back to rowdy Christmas Eves spent playing and laughing with my cousins. I was never able to reproduce my grandma’s molasses cookies because she baked them without a recipe, and she left us before we perfected the transcription of her vocal instructions. I see these chewy gingerbread cookies as my own version of my grandma’s cookies: the use of freshly grated ginger adds a real complex kick to the treat, and the zesty lemon glaze adds a touch of sophistication. These chewy gingerbread cookies are sturdy enough to ship to loved ones, so consider making a double batch, and you’ll make a lot of people happy!
