One of my readers commented on a vintage recipe for molasses cookies (recipe here) and asked if I had a 1940s era recipe for ginger cookies. As a wedding gift in 1952, I had received the 1952 edition of Joy of Cooking which was a later edition of the 1931 cookbook. I think these cookies come from the 1930-1940 era. They are easy to make and yield a big batch of spicy, old-fashioned cookies.
JOY GINGER SNAPS
1 cup margarine, softened
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup molasses (Grandma’s, sorghum)
1 Tblsp. red wine vinegar
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp soda
1 tsp salt
4 tsp ground ginger
½ tsp cinnamon
2 Tblsp. granulated sugar for dipping
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
In a large mixer bowl, beat margarine and brown sugar together until well blended. Add egg, molasses and vinegar – beat until smooth.
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, soda, salt, ginger and cinnamon. Add to margarine/sugar mixture and beat just until flour is absorbed.
Drop by measuring teaspoon full onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Dip a small juice glass in granulated sugar …
and flatten cookies to about ¼ inch thick. Leave 2 inches space between cookies.
Bake in preheated 375 degree F oven for 7-½ minutes. Remove cookies immediately to rack to cool.
Will make 80 cookies 1-½ inches diameter.
For 2-½ inch diameter cookies, drop dough by measuring tablespoon full onto sheets and flatten with glass dipped in sugar. Bake for about 8 minutes.
LILLIAN'S CUPBOARD 