Gingersnaps

• Recipe by Melissa Murphy Hagenbart

Using fresh spices makes all the difference in these buttery ginger crisps (and in all your holiday baking.) If you still have the spices you baked with last year, it's time to replace them.

Ingredients

1. 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2. 2 teaspoons ginger
3. 1 teaspoon cinnamon
4. 1/2 teaspoon allspice
5. 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
6. 2 teaspoons baking soda
7. 1/2 teaspoon salt
8. 2 sticks (1/2 pound) unsalted butter, softened
9. 1/2 cup granulated sugar
10. 1/2 cup light brown sugar
11. 1 large egg
12. 1/3 cup unsulphured molasses

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, white pepper, baking soda and salt.
2. In a large bowl, using a handheld electric mixer, beat the butter until smooth. Add the granulated and brown sugars and beat until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and molasses. Add the dry ingredients and beat on low speed until blended. Form the dough into a 10-inch disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate until firm.
3. Preheat the oven to 350°. Line several cookie sheets with parchment or wax paper. Roll tablespoons of the dough into 1-inch balls and arrange them about 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets. Bake on the upper and middle racks of the oven for about 15 minutes, or until browned and set; shift the pans halfway through baking. Let the cookies cool completely on the baking sheets.

Make Ahead

The cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week or frozen for up to 1 month.