Soft and cakey, peppery ginger cookies are perfect anchors for a melty dessert that’s chilly and spicy all at the same time.
Level: | Easy |
Total: | 3 hr 15 min |
Active: | 35 min |
Yield: | 18 sandwiches |
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (see Cook’s Note)
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
- 10 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper
- 1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar
- 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1/2 cup sanding sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 3/4 cup chopped crystalized ginger
- 2 quarts slightly softened vanilla ice cream
Instructions
- Arrange 2 oven racks in the top and bottom thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cardamom, salt and 2 teaspoons black pepper in a medium bowl; set aside. Beat the brown sugar and butter together with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides, add the egg and beat to combine. Add the molasses and beat to combine. Slowly add the flour mixture and beat until just combined.
- Shape the dough into walnut-sized balls, about 1 tablespoon each, then roll them in sanding sugar. Place the cookies 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets and flatten slightly.
- Bake, rotating halfway through, until puffy and crackled on top, about 10 minutes. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Meanwhile fold the cayenne, 1/2 cup crystalized ginger, and 4 teaspoons black pepper into the ice cream. Allow to re-freeze for 10 minutes. Once the ice cream is hard enough to scoop, sandwich about 1/4 cup ice cream between pairs of cookies. Re-freeze for at least 2 hours.
- Combine the remaining 1/4 cup crystallized ginger with the remaining 4 teaspoons pepper in a medium bowl. Roll the ice cream sandwich sides in the mixture. Serve immediately or individually wrap in plastic and keep in the freezer for up to 1 week.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size | 1 of 18 servings |
Calories | 331 |
Total Fat | 15 g |
Saturated Fat | 9 g |
Carbohydrates | 46 g |
Dietary Fiber | 1 g |
Sugar | 31 g |
Protein | 4 g |
Cholesterol | 56 mg |
Sodium | 160 mg |
Serving Size | 1 of 18 servings |
Calories | 331 |
Total Fat | 15 g |
Saturated Fat | 9 g |
Carbohydrates | 46 g |
Dietary Fiber | 1 g |
Sugar | 31 g |
Protein | 4 g |
Cholesterol | 56 mg |
Sodium | 160 mg |