Ginger Cookies!

I participate in a health group in my area every now and again, and every month I try to focus on one medicinal herb, what it does for your body, and how we can use it in our everyday food!  So, this month's herb is GINGER, and these cookies are not your average ginger snaps!

Ginger is a great anti-bacterial herb, and you can use it in many ways!  This is obviously ground ginger that we use in these cookies, but you can grate fresh ginger into your favorite chili recipe, or you can make ginger tea by boiling diced ginger in a pot for about 10 minutes and adding honey.  Ginger tea is great for keeping colds and flu viruses away, and it works wonders for a natural remedy for strep throat!

These cookies are thick and chewy and VERY GINGERY!  If you're looking for cookies with a kick, then these are for you!  These cookies are also completely organic and refined sugar-free!  They're sweetened with pure maple sugar, which means that they're sweetened with dried maple syrup which is filled with lots of minerals and nutrients!  

Ginger Cookies!

Ingredients:
3 cups whole wheat pastry flour
2 Tbs. ground ginger
​2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 cup butter (room temperature)
1/2 cup palm shortening 
​3/4 cup organic maple sugar
1/4 cup molasses
2 eggs

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350° 
2. Line baking sheet with silicon baking mat, or parchment paper.  Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, mix flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until combined.
4. In the bowl of your stand mixer, cream the butter and shortening then add the maple sugar and molasses.  Beat until light and fluffy.
5. Add in the eggs and stir until combined.
6. Add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients in thirds, stirring well until combined in between each addition.  The dough should hold together well and be soft.
7. Form half inch balls of dough and place on prepared baking sheet in rows of 3x4.  Do not flatten your dough balls.
8. Bake on middle rack for 10-12 minutes or until they are set.  (Do not over cook or they will be hard and crunchy.)

*Use organic ingredients when feasible.