Brown Sugar Cookies
Here’s a few things I’ve learned from life… they definitely have nothing to do with cookies:
Don’t laugh when someone asks you out on a date. They’ll think you’re laughing at them. They won’t understand that you’re just flattered and awkward and your head is about to explode. Don’t chew gum in a public restroom. It sorta feels like you’re eating bathroom air. Capital Gross.
Lastly, don’t drink wine past 3:30am. It’s totally past your bedtime and you won’t look pretty in the morning.
It’s just that life is so beautiful, I’d hate for you to make these mistakes.
Can we talk about cookies now? Geez.
These cookies are with and without.
They’re just like chewy sugar cookies, with brown sugar. They’re also just like chocolate chip cookies, without chocolate chips. Wrap your brain around those deep depth thoughts.
These are the gorgeous, sweet, chewy, caramel cookies. They sound so simple: brown sugar cookies. But seriously? These are some of my new favorites. They have just a touch of ginger and cinnamon in them too. These aren’t spice cookies. The ginger and cinnamon adds a roundness, not a ton of spice flavor. These cookies are the real deal.
Oh! If you wanted to add chocolate chips or toffee pieces, we will totally be friends for life.
Brown Sugar Cookies
makes 2 1/2 dozen cookies
from Epicurious September 2011
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 1/2 sticks (6 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 large egg
In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and ginger. Set aside.
Place butter and brown sugar in the bowl of an electric stand mixer. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 to 5 minutes. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the egg and vanilla extract, and beat on medium speed for one minute more.
Add the dry ingredients, all at once, to the butter and sugar mixture. Beat on low speed until the dough begins to come together and the flour disappears. Stop the mixer and finish incorporating the ingredients with a spatula. Once all the flour is thoroughly mixed in, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Place a rack in the center and upper third of the over and preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Dollop tablespoons size balls of dough onto the baking sheet. Bake cookies for 10 to 12 minutes, or until lightly browned around the edges. Cool on the pan for 5 minutes, before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Cookies will last, in an airtight container at room temperature, for up to 5 days.
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Jump for Joy! I just baked two batches of these, the first as written, and the second subbing cardamom for the ginger because someone I know and love did not like the ginger taste. Both are amazing! Now I am dreaming of lavender shortbread.
DELicIOUS
Hi Joy, this recipe looks great. I’m contemplating making them into a Halloween variation, and I’m trying to figure out how to be able to use cookie cutters with them – do you think that’s something that can be done? I’m thinking more flour would be needed, and maybe some more sugar to stiffen the dough into cookie cutter preparation. Any suggestions? A friend recommended this recipe, and I’ve got to say I’m going to have to try them either way if I can’t figure out how to get them for my The Usual (Spooky) Suspects cookies for Halloween :-)
I made these for some Mstones & MMA fighters last night… They we’re a hit!!! I loved them and our children did too. Thanks for a great recipe!!!
Just made these and they turned out great! Perfectly chewy, and not sooooo sweet. I mean they’re sweet, they ARE a cookie, but not intoxicating, overwhelming, I can only eat 1 sweet. Nope, I had like 8.
IMPORTANT TIP.. keep a close eye on these guys.. i left the first batch in for a minute too long and the taste was revolting, next batch was eaten up so quick i barely had time to blink
Hi Joy, thank you for this recipe. I love the subtle sweetness and rustic flavor the cinnamon and ginger give. And they have this nice crunch on the outside, but definitely chewy on the inside. I’ve been looking for a simple recipe so I can bake some and give away to my friends for Christmas and I think this one fits the bill. You know what I did though? I skipped chilling the dough and dropped them on to my Wilton snowflake cookie sheet. I did not fill the whole space as I knew it would spread, and it did! When they were done, I turned them over and viola! Snowflake brown sugar cookies! Perfect for Christmas. I wish I could show you. I took a pic but don’t know if I can post here. If you like, I can send to you via e-mail. I can’t wait for my boys to come home from school. These will be gone in a blink of an eye. Thanks for sharing. I love your blog. It’s inspiring. : ) Keep at it, ok? God bless you.
Joy, thank you ever so much for sharing this. I’m a virgin baker, and I adapted your recipe, and the cookies came out great! They were chewy and gorgeous and the whole house was infused with a beautiful cinnamon sugary fragrance. I feel so much more confident as a baker now! xoxo
Joy, you ought to include a warning on these that the dough is wildly addictive. These are currently in my fridge readying for the oven. And yes… I added chocolate chips. Way, WAY too many… but I’m okay with it.
Joy, this is my go to cookie recipe. I put little pieces of toffee and chocolate in it. Crazy amazing. Thanks!!
The batter tastes amazing! It’s very addicting and tastes soooo good(: I love chocolate chip cookies, but I’m allergic to chocolate – and I can’t stand plain old sugar cookies… I’ve been looking EVERYWHERE for this recipe!! Thank you so much, Joy! :-)
Hi Joy, are you sure it’s 2 tsp of baking soda? Because the first time I made it I followed the recipe to the T and they came out horrible. I decided to try them again a year later and they still came out horrifyingly disgusting. I don’t know what I did wrong, considering all these raving reviews!! Please help me!