Spicy Black Peppercorn Molasses Cookies

Spicy Black Peppercorn Molasses Cookies
Makes 12 to 14 large cookies

From FinaMill and Chef Jesse Szewczyk, in support of Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, please enjoy this yummy recipe. These large, crackly molasses cookies are the perfect treat for people who like cookies that strike the perfect balance between soft and cakey yet pleasantly chewy. They are tender, spicy, and full of warm holiday flavor. Don’t be afraid of the black pepper in the recipe. It gives the cookies a warm, peppy kick that elevates the cinnamon and ginger to create a pleasantly spiced flavor not unlike a gingersnap.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups spooned and leveled all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground FinaMill Tellicherry black peppercorns
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground Himalayan pink salt
• 1½ sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
• 1¼ cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1 large egg yolk, room temperature
• ⅓ cup unsulphured molasses
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ¾ cup turbinado sugar, for rolling

1. In a medium mixing bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, and salt.
2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter and brown sugar. Beat on medium speed, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl halfway through, until smooth and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. (Alternatively, use a hand mixer and large mixing bowl.) Turn the mixer off and add the egg, egg yolk, molasses, and vanilla extract. Mix on medium speed until very fluffy and lightened in color slightly, 2 to 3 minutes. With the mixer running on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture, beating just until a soft dough forms with no pockets of dry flour. Tightly wrap the mixing bowl in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, up to overnight.
3. Preheat the oven to 350°F and set 2 racks at the upper-middle and lower-middle positions. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats. Place the turbinado sugar in a shallow mixing bowl. 
4. Using a heaping ¼ cup measuring cup, portion out the dough and roll into large balls. Roll the dough balls in the turbinado sugar and place at least 3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets, 6 to 8 per tray. (If the dough is too hard to easily scoop, let sit at room temperature for 5 minutes and try again.)
5.  Bake both pans at the same time, swapping the top sheet to the bottom rack and bottom sheet to the top midway through baking, until the tops crack and puff slightly, 15 to 18 minutes. Immediately tap the hot backing sheets on the counter to deflate the cookies slightly and let cool on the baking sheets.

Chef Jesse Szewczyk is a cookbook author. His work has been featured in Food Network, Food52, Bon Appétit, The Washington Post, and many other publications. He is the author of Cookies: The New Classics, which was named one of the best cookbooks of 2021 by The New York Times.