Oh So Sinfully Delicious...

For the past four and a half months, we have showcased our baking experience on our blog. It's been quite an experience as we have tried recipes from around the world, from North to South America; produced holiday treats, such as Halloween and Christmas (see recipe below), made some celebratory treats (remember cupcake day?) and even meet a celebrity baker (see last week's post) we are closing a chapter in Oh So Sinfully Delicious by making our last baked good...

...in Canada. Ana will be going back home to Brazil, however, I (Ann) will join her where we'll continue baking more recipes. However, before we leave this great, but cold country, we couldn't possibly leave without doing some Christmas baking. This week we decided to do a classic with a twist-Chai Gingerbread Cookie. This recipe was taken from Chatelaine 2010 holiday cookie collection. These cookies are simply amazing and would make a great addition to your holiday feast.

Chai Gingerbread Cookie

From here
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp ground ginger

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1/3 cup fancy molasses

1 chai-tea bag

Directions

1. In a large bowl, using a fork, stir flour with spices and baking soda. Slit open a chai-tea bag. Stir 1 tbsp (15 mL) of the leaves into flour mixture along with spices. In a medium bowl, using a wooden spoon, beat butter with sugar for 2 min. Beat in egg, then molasses. Make a well in centre of flour mixture, then pour in molasses mixture. Stir until most of molasses is absorbed. Gently knead until dough is an even colour. Divide into 4 portions
2. Shape each into a ball, then flatten slightly into a disc . Wrap separately with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 30 min or up to a week. Or overwrap with foil and freeze up to 1 month.
3. When ready to bake, remove dough from refrigerator. Let stand at room temperature until soft enough to roll, 5 to 10 min. Preheat oven to 350F (180C). Lightly spray or oil a baking sheet. Place a disc of dough between 2 sheets of waxed paper. Roll dough no thicker than ¼ in. (0.5 cm). Cut out shapes with cookie cutter. Place on baking sheet about 1 in. (2.5 cm) apart.
4. Bake in centre of preheated oven just until edges begin to darken, 7 to 10 min. Remove cookies to a rack to cool. Repeat with remaining dough. Store in an airtight container in a cool place up to 1 week or freeze up to 1 month.

Ann's Thoughts

Well what can I say, we ended this Canadian blog with a bang, these cookies were amazing, I would even have to say, the best cookies that we've baked so far on this blog. That's not to say that our other cookies were not good, because they were, but these chai gingerbread cookies came out perfectly, not even Ana could find fault in them.

Our cookie decor was not that great, but we still had fun decorating them. My only advice would be to use royal icing. It's thicker and easier to work with when decorating cookies. We decided to make these cookies last minute, so we had to improvise and use water and confectionar sugar which makes for a runny icing mix but Ana was able to make the outline of the cookies and we used whatever candy we had on hand for the decor.

To wrap things up, these cookies are awesome, and you absolutely have to try this recipe out. And as the famous poem goes: "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

Ana's Thoughts

One word: yumy! These cookies are fantastic. Best gingerbread cookies evah! haha I've had gingerbread cookies before and they were not even close to these ones we've baked. They will be my go-to gingerbread cookies from now on. Super easy to make, super fast - 10 min. tops - and no need refrigerating after cutting, that's a plus for me. And they are delicious - did I mention that already? What else do you want from a gingerbread cookie? Go make them. Now. =)

This is our last post of the year. =( Unfortunately, our busy schedules - haha-  won't allow more baking, but we'll be back next year with tons of tasty goods for you. We here at OSSD wish you all a Sweet Xmas and a wonderful New Year, full of joy, peace, love and cookies!...and cakes...and chocolate...and pies..... =D

Identification: Mr. Gingerbread Man
Cause of death: Yummyness

See you soon!