Ultimate Ginger Bourbon Cookies

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Add some warmth and spice to your winter with these irresistible Ginger Bourbon Cookies.  Made with love and a splash of bourbon, these cookies are sure to be a crowd pleaser.

 

I love all things ginger and/or gingerbread flavored.  And not just for the holiday season, either.  If people didn’t look at me like I was weird, I’d eat gingerbread snack cake, cupcakes, and cookies year-round.  Yes, there’s gingersnaps, but they’re just not quite the same to me.  They’re not as ginger as I want them to be.

 

From ginger stir-fry recipes to ginger cookie truffles and gingerbread macaron, there’s 17 recipes that highlight this spicy delicious root.  In the raw form it’s considered an herb, but in the dried form most call it spice.  I just call it a root because that’s what it is.  This recipe pairs two of my favorite things together into one cookie: ginger and bourbon!

 

 

What is bourbon?

 

Bourbon is an American whiskey made predominantly in the southern part of Kentucky.  That’s one of the reasons I’m a bourbon girl!  I was born in Kentucky.  Anyway, what sets bourbon apart from other whiskeys it the “mash bill” or the recipe of grains used to make the whiskey.  For bourbon, it must be at least 51% corn.  It can be more than that, but at the very least it must have 51% corn.

 

Bourbon must be aged for at least 2 years.  Most are aged between 5 and 12 years, but to be considered a bourbon it has to be aged 2 years.  And it must be aged in new, white oak barrels that are charred on in the inside.  The level of char is ranked from 1 to 4 with 4 being the most charred and producing the most depth of flavor in the bourbon.

 

 

The proof must be between 80 and 125 before it’s bottled.  Water can be added to lower the proof for bottling, but nothing else can be added.  Finally, bourbon can be made in other parts of the US, but only those made in Kentucky are labelled with the “Kentucky Straight Whiskey” label.

 

Bourbon vs Rye vs Scotch vs Whiskey

 

Just like all squares are rectangles but not all rectangles are squares, all of these are considered whiskey.  It’s a broad term that encompasses bourbon, rye, and scotch.  However, all three of these vary in flavor depending on the grains used, distillation process, and aging techniques. 

 

 

Bourbon sweeter flavor profile thanks to being made primarily from corn and aged in charred oak barrels. Rye, on the other hand, tends to be spicier with a drier taste due to its higher rye grain content. Just like Bourbon must have 51% corn, rye must have 51% rye grain. 

 

Scotch is typically smoky and peaty from the malted barley used.  It hails from Scotland and requires a minimum of three years aging.  There are nuances to Scotch like single malt, single grain, blended malt, etc.  But these cookies are about bourbon and not scotch.

 

 

Why is ginger and bourbon a delicious combination?

 

Because their flavors compliment each other very well!  Ginger brings a spicy, warm flavor to these cookies.  These highlight the sweet and oaky notes of the bourbon.  This makes for a harmonious blend of tastes that tickle your taste buds.

 

Using fresh ginger adds a sharpness of that cuts through the richness of the bourbon.  The dried ginger brings a mellow heat and flavor that elevates the smoke of the bourbon.  This results in a well-balanced and utterly delicious ginger bourbon cookie.

 

 

Ingredients to make these ginger cookies

 

If you’re not a bourbon drinker, you may need to get some to make these cookies.  But the rest of the ingredients you should have on hand.  They’re pantry staples in our house:

Dry ingredients –flour, baking soda, salt

Flavors – cinnamon, cloves, ground ginger, bourbon, chocolate chips

Wet ingredients – butter, brown sugar, eggs, fresh ginger

 

Instructions for making ginger bourbon cookies

 

First, preheat the oven so it’s ready when you are.  Next, combine the dry ingredients with the cinnamon, cloves, and ground ginger in a mixing bowl and stir with a whisk to break up any lumps and thoroughly combine the ingredients.  Set the bowl aside.

 

 

Place the butter and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat until combined.  Switch to the paddle attachment and add the eggs one at a time before stirring in the molasses, fresh ginger, and the bourbon.

 

Slowly pour the flour mixture slowly into the bourbon mixture until just combined.  Add the chocolate chips and stir until they are incorporated into the batter.  Scoop by tablespoonfuls onto a baking sheet lined with a silpat or parchment paper.  Bake at 350 F for 12 to 15 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden brown.  Cool the cookies in the pan for 5 minutes then move to a wire rack to cool completely. 

 

 

Creative Ways to Package and Gift Your Ginger Bourbon Cookies

 

I’m a fan of those holiday tins.  I like to recycle tins I’ve received or taken from work after all the treats are gone.  Then I line with fresh parchment and carefully stack the cookies between layers or parchment, so they don’t stick.  Another idea is to place a few cookies in a wide mouth mason jar and tie a ribbon around the lid for a charming and rustic look.

 

Alternatively, you could stack the cookies in a festive cellophane bag then tie it with a colorful bow for a more polished presentation like they came from a bakery. Finally, try arranging the cookies on a decorative plate and then wrap the plate in colorful cellophane and decorate them with a festive bow on top.

 

Either way you choose to package these ginger bourbon cookies, make sure to double the batch because you’re family will devour all of them if you don’t.  They have a delicious bourbon flavor, warm ginger two ways, and sweet dark chocolate chips.  They’re a tri-fecta of cookie deliciousness.

More Christmas Cookie Recipes:

 

• Christmas Monster Cookies by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Ginger Bourbon Cookies by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Greek Butter Cookies by Art of Natural Living
• Christmas Butter Cookies by Blogghetti
• Red & White Sparkling Brown Sugar Cookies by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
• Christmas Tree Sugar Cookies by Hezzi-D’s Recipe Box
• Gingerbread Pizzelles by Jolene’s Recipe Journal
• Swiss Lebkuchen by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Chocolate Peppermint Blossoms by Magical Ingredients
• Tea Cakes by That Recipe
• Christmas Magic Cookie Bars by The Spiffy Cookie