A recipe for Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies that’s perfect for the holidays
The warm, welcoming aromas of sugar, butter, and spices permeate kitchens as the holiday season approaches. The gingerbread cookie is one cookie that perfectly embodies the charm of this season. Although gingerbread is a classic in and of itself, the addition of Ghirardelli milk chocolate elevates the dish to a whole new level. Warm seasonal reminiscence and decadent sweetness come together in this delight that blends rich chocolate and spiced gingerbread.
This blog post will go into great detail on how to make Ghirardelli milk chocolate gingerbread cookies that will be a hit with your family and friends. Everything from the ingredients to the baking procedure will be covered, along with pointers on how to make these delicious treats even better.
Why Milk Chocolate from Ghirardelli?
It’s crucial to discuss why Ghirardelli milk chocolate is the perfect option for gingerbread cookies before moving on to the recipe. Ghirardelli is renowned for its exquisite flavor, silky texture, and superior quality. It offers a creamy contrast that ideally balances the strong flavors of nutmeg, ginger, and cinnamon when added to the spicy warmth of gingerbread.
Even people who usually avoid harsher spice flavors will enjoy these cookies since the sweetness of the milk chocolate counterbalances the gingerbread’s more robust, spicy undertones.
Items You’ll Require
For the Cookie Base with Gingerbread:
Two and a half cups of all-purpose flour
One teaspoon of baking soda
One teaspoon of ground ginger
One teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon of ground garlic
Half a teaspoon of nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup softened unsalted butter
- ¾ cup of packed brown sugar
One huge egg
Half a cup of molasses
One teaspoon of vanilla extract
Regarding the Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Supplements:
For balance, use one cup of Ghirardelli milk chocolate baking chips or a chopped Ghirardelli milk chocolate bar (ideally 60% cocoa).
Extra Ghirardelli chocolate squares are optional, but they can melt and sprinkle on top.
Detailed Baking Directions
1. Get your dry ingredients ready.
Mix the all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground ginger, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a medium-sized basin. This guarantees that the dough has an even distribution of spices. Put this away.
2 Cream the Sugar and Butter
Beat the brown sugar and softened butter in a big bowl until they are light and creamy. It will take two to three minutes. In order to give the cookies their rich flavor and soft texture, it is important to make sure the sugar is completely combined with the butter.
3. Incorporate Wet Substances
Add the egg, molasses, and vanilla extract and beat until combined. The distinctive rich, almost smokey sweetness of gingerbread cookies is derived from the molasses. To make sure all the ingredients are combined evenly, scrape down the sides of the basin as you mix.
4. Mix Dry and Wet Components
Beat the dry ingredients into the wet liquid on low speed until they are just incorporated. Avoid overmixing as this may result in tough cookies. For rolling, the dough should be thick and just a little sticky.
The fifth step is to fold in Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate.
Add the chopped chocolate or Ghirardelli milk chocolate baking chips and fold gently. Make an effort to spread the chunks equally throughout the dough so that the rich chocolate flavor is there in every bite.
6 Chill the Dough
Refrigerate the dough for a minimum of half an hour while it is covered. The dough may more easily be rolled into balls for baking when it is chilled, which also allows the flavors to combine. Additionally, it keeps the cookies from spreading too much while they’re baking.
7. Get the oven ready.
Line baking pans with parchment paper and preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
8. Cookie Formation
For each cookie, scoop out one to two tablespoons of dough, then roll it into a ball. To allow for spreading, place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Before baking, dust the top with a little sugar or cinnamon sugar for a festive look.
9. Bake
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the centers still appear somewhat mushy but the edges are set. If you want the cookies to remain chewy, don’t overbake them because they will continue to bake on the sheet after you take them out of the oven.
10. Optional: Add Extra Chocolate Drizzle
Go all out if you’re a real chocolate lover! To add a sophisticated touch, melt Ghirardelli chocolate squares in the microwave in 20-second increments to prevent burning after the cookies have cooled. Then, drizzle the chocolate over each cookie.
How to Make Ghirardelli Gingerbread Cookies Perfect
- Avoid Overbaking – Gingerbread cookies should be chewy and soft, so watch them carefully in the oven. When the center is still soft but the edges are hard, pull them out.
2 Use Quality Molasses – Molasses gives the biscuits moisture and depth. Choose unsulfured molasses for baking since it has a stronger flavor and a superior consistency.
- Chill Your Dough – As previously said, chilling the dough is essential to achieving the ideal cookie consistency and shape.
- Go Big on Chocolate – If you’re a chocolate lover, think about adding twice as much Ghirardelli chocolate to the recipe or even packing a chocolate-filled center inside the cookies.
Suggestions for Serving
In addition to being delicious on their own, these cookies can be served in a variety of ways. To make your Ghirardelli milk chocolate gingerbread cookies even better, try these tips:
In the presence of hot cocoa: For a decadent winter treat, serve with a steaming mug of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream.
Sandwiches with ice cream: Make a gingerbread ice cream sandwich with two cookies. The chocolate and spices go really well with vanilla or cinnamon ice cream.
Holiday Presents: Present them as Christmas presents by wrapping them in festive packaging. They make the ideal homemade gift for coworkers, friends, or neighbors.
Concluding Remarks
The blend of Ghirardelli’s creamy milk chocolate and gingerbread spices has a certain enchantment. These cookies enliven the warmth and cheer of the season, whether you’re baking for a holiday party, giving them as gifts to loved ones, or just spending a relaxing evening at home. Ghirardelli milk chocolate gingerbread cookies will quickly become a favorite in your holiday baking repertoire since they are simple to prepare, flavorful, and festive.
Enjoy the delectable combination of chocolate and spice, and happy baking!
