Cookie Love

As I said in the post about the marvel that was the Pumpkin Carrot Cake, w does most of the baking around our kitchen. To which I am most grateful. Fatter, but still grateful. Her blueberry scones are the stuff of breakfast legend. Her regular pumpkin cake is awe inspiring. And I'm not saying this just to get her to bake more desserts. She sees right through my rather lame manipulations. Her oeuvre is dinner party tested and approved. And now comes these stupidly delicious ginger spice cookies. There is no one who doesn't like ginger spice cookies. If they don't, then they haven't had these ginger spice cookies. You will not...I repeat, WILL NOT...be able to eat just one of these!
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Ginger Spice Cookies
from epicurious
yield: Makes about 30

ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup coarsely chopped crystallized ginger
1 cup (lightly packed) dark brown sugar
1/2 cup vegetable shortening, room temperature
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 large egg
1/4 cup mild-flavored (light) molasses
Sugar

method:
Combine first 6 ingredients in medium bowl; whisk to blend. Mix in crystallized ginger. Using electric mixer, beat brown sugar, shortening and butter in large bowl until fluffy. Add egg and molasses and beat until blended. Add flour mixture and mix just until blended. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly butter 2 baking sheets. Spoon sugar in thick layer onto small plate. Using wet hands, form dough into 1 1/4-inch balls; roll in sugar to coat completely. Place balls on prepared sheets, spacing 2 inches apart.

Bake cookies until cracked on top but still soft to touch, about 12 minutes. Cool on sheets 1 minute. Carefully transfer to racks and cool. (Can be made 5 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.)

Dinner party, part 4: Having my cake and eating it!

As I’m sure I’ve made clear, when it comes to dessert I’m a huge cake guy. Not to limit myself though, because honestly when to comes to dessert I’m a huge dessert guy. w does most of the baking in these parts, and she indulges my cake fetish quite regularly. For the perfect ending to our dinner party last week she pulled this recipe off of, of all places, the Libby’s Pumpkin website. This cake was, even through the fog of far too many bottles of wine, incredible. Topped with the maple cream cheese frosting from Leite’s Culinaria (this is frosting, btw, that will have you asking your significant other to shed their clothes so you can spread it on their bodies and lick it off. It’s sexxxy!), it is almost not to be believed. So good, that when one of our guests asked for some to go, I almost said no, and then when I saw the next day that she had walked out and left it in our fridge I was actually giggling with glee. Not the slightest feeling of “oh, maybe I should call Kate and let her know”. Just me going “oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!!” Sorry Kate, but I dig this cake….

Out of the oven, waiting to be frosted in sin!

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Pumpkin Carrot Cake
Adapted from Libby’s
Yields - 12 servings

ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
3 large eggs
1 1/4 cups LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 can (8 oz.) crushed pineapple, drained
1-1/4 cup (about 3 medium) carrots, grated
1 1/4 cups nuts, chopped, divided

Frosting
Two (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
method:
PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease two 9-inch-round cake pans.

COMBINE flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in small bowl. Combine milk and lemon juice in liquid measuring cup (mixture will appear curdled).

BEAT eggs, pumpkin, granulated sugar, brown sugar, oil, pineapple, carrots and milk mixture in large mixer bowl; mix well. Gradually add flour mixture; beat until combined. Stir in coconut and 1 cup nuts. Pour into prepared cake pans.

BAKE for 35-40 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 15 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

MAKE THE FROSTING
In a stand mixer beat all the ingredients on medium until fluffy. To assemble the cake, frost the top of one cake, place the other cake on top. Frost the sides and top, swirling decoratively. Refrigerate the cake for 30 minutes to set up frosting.

FROST between layers, on sides and top of cake with frosting. Garnish with remaining nuts if desired. Store in refrigerator.

pic top left from Libby's
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one year ago today @ E.D.T.: watch out, they're coming for you!