Back in the day, my friend used to host a cookie exchange party every year. Everyone would bring about 40-50 cookies and the recipe printed out on an index card. Each person would get to take 2 of each type of cookie as well as the recipe for each cookie. It was an awesome party and it's something I miss doing each year. I am ecstatic to tell you all, however, that through December 24th, I will be hosting a virtual, vegan version of this cookie swap party, with tons of guest posts from some of my favorite bloggers. Keep checking back to see who brings what type of cookie!
I love to look at desserts. The last time I was in France, I needed to step in to every single patisserie and just ogle all of the gorgeous desserts and how perfectly they were presented. I didn't need to buy anything, I just wanted to look. It's a quirk of mine, but it adds to my charm. Anywho, Ashlae, of Oh, Ladycakes, consistently indulges my desire to stare at stunning desserts. And she does so while both making me laugh out loud and warming my heart at the same time. Ashlae is also a great writer with a big heart, which makes it all the more fun to visit her blog. It is such a pleasure to have Ashlae here today- please join me in ogling these incredible little cookies welcoming her to the cookie swap party!
Thanks for having me, Kristy! And have a cheerful holiday season, folks.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup vegan butter
- 1/2 cup cane sugar
- 1/2 cup unsulphured molasses
- 1 flax egg
- 3/4 tsp ground ginger
- 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 2 1/2 cup unbleached flour
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, sugar and molasses, using a hand mixer on high speed, for 20-30 seconds. Beat in the flax egg, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, salt, and baking soda, just until combined. Using a wooden spoon, mix in the flour 1/2 cup at a time. Once you've added 2 cups, mix in the remaining flour 1/4 cup at a time. If the dough feels firm enough after 2 1/4 cups of flour have been added, omit the last 1/4 cup.
- Preheat oven to 350˚F. Line a large baking sheet with a silicon mat or parchment paper; set aside. Line a flat surface with parchment paper and lightly sprinkle with flour (or cocoa powder). Roll out half of the dough until it is about 1/4" thick. Cut dough and transfer pieces to the prepared baking sheet; chill in freezer for 5-10 minutes prior to baking (this will help the cookies to retain their shap). Bake at 350˚F for 6-7 minutes. Transfer to cooling rack then store in an air tight container for up to five days.
Thanks for stopping by and be sure to come back on Thursday to see who our next special guest is and what they bring to the party! Thank you so much, Ashlae, for bringing these adorable little gingerbread folk!
Be sure to check out the rest of the cookies at the party:
Cadry
Okay, now I'll have to apologize to my husband for waking him up laughing. Oh, my gosh, I can't believe that your grandma hired Santa when you were all old enough to drink, Ashlae!! This part had me in stitches:
"I looked at Thom and warned him of the inevitable: Brace yourself, Santa is going to come walking through that door any minute now.
The real Santa? he asked.
Don’t be ridiculous. YES THE REAL SANTA."
Oh, well, laughter is the best way to awake, right? Thank you for the hilarious story, Ashlae!! And Kristy, thanks for inviting another wonderful blogger to the party!
keepinitkind
That part had me cracking up too. Ashlae is such a great humorous story-teller. 🙂
Ashley
Cutest gingerbread cookies ever! Love the Christmas story, too!
keepinitkind
Aren't they totally adorable?! 🙂
Annie
What an awesome grandma! I'll bet she enjoyed that all immensely.
I could pop hundreds of those little cookies into my mouth!
keepinitkind
They do look pretty addictive, don't they?
Melissa
Hilarious - and these little cookies look amazing!
keepinitkind
Right?! 🙂
emily
that's awesome.. and i'm definitely making these! 🙂
keepinitkind
These guys are just begging to be made- I can't wait to try them, myself! 🙂
Heather
Ashlae is so stinkin' cute and so are her mini gingerbread folk - I absolutely adore her blog and recipes, another great addition to the 2012 cookie swap!!
keepinitkind
I know- she is so friggin' adorable, I can barely stand it! 🙂
Courtney Jones
Cutest gingerbread ever! 🙂 And such great photos too! I love it. I definitely want to try these!
Herbivore Triathlete
I love Ashlae's blog and her mini-cookies! I'm making her sugar cookies today as a matter of fact. Great post!
keepinitkind
Oh, please share how it goes! 🙂
Somer
Ashlae and her cookies are freaking adorable!
keepinitkind
Right?! 😉
Catherine
I did a batch for my daughter's Christhmas elementary school lunch. Kids did really love them, even though I the regular flour for a mix of spelt, buckwheat and oat flour. Well... I also put a liitle icing for the gingermen's eyes and buttons, guess that help!