These Olive Oil Gingerbread Cookies will soon become a regular in your holiday baking repertoire. And you won’t miss the butter!
I really enjoy baking. I especially enjoy eating what I bake! My friends don’t seem to mind my baking experiments, either! As you know, I have been baking primarily with extra virgin olive oil. From pie crusts to scones and even cookies, olive oil can easily replace butter in your baking. And you won’t really miss the butter, either. My olive oil baking experiments have brought me to this wonderful delight: Olive Oil Gingerbread Cookies.
I never baked a tremendous amount of gingerbread cookies when the kids were little. I always thought the flavor to be too… well, sophisticated, for their young taste buds. They had tried more spicy versions of gingerbread, and never finished their cookie. Gasp! So instead, we baked a plentiful amount of sugar cookies.
This year, I was determined to update the gingerbread cookie by using olive oil instead of butter. It took a few tries, but here it is. The cookie is mildly spicy – enough to give you a kick, but it should not overwhelm you. You just need to roll the dough between two sheets of parchment paper.
As I was experimenting and making batches and batches of my olive oil gingerbread cookies, my kids kept stealing one as they passed by. Middle Child requested them in his lunch box. My Princess would eat one when she came home from school. The Professor felt a gingerbread cookie (or two) with a glass of milk was a healthy breakfast.
I guess their tastebuds have evolved after all!
When choosing an olive oil for these olive oil gingerbread cookies, you will want either a mild, buttery oil or spicy, pepper infused oil for more kick!
Fast forward a couple more years and those kids are now teenagers (GASP!) and guess what? They request these gingerbread cookies more often than they do the sugar cookies. And honestly, I like them more, too.
Can’t get enough of gingerbread flavor but don’t feel like dealing with cookie dough? Click here for a fabulous recipe for Gingerbread Cake, from The Hamilton Cookbook.
Olive Oil Gingerbread Cookies
Yes, you can bake this holiday cookie without butter, but with silky extra virgin olive oil. Choose a mild flavored oil, or if you like your gingerbread spicy, a pepper infused oil. Recipe by Laura Bashar of Family Spice
Ingredients:
- 3 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp ginger, ground
- 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon, ground
- 3/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp cloves, ground
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg, ground
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, light, packed
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1 egg, large
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 TBS extra virgin olive oil
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350ºF and line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- In a medium-sized bowl whisk together:
- 3 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp ginger, ground
- 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon, ground
- 3/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp cloves, ground
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg, ground
- Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, mix until creamy and combined.
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, light , packed
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1 egg, large
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 TBS extra virgin olive oil
- Put mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture, and beat until dough starts to form and clump together.
- Coat flat work surface or cutting board with some all-purpose flour. You can use up to:
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- Gently knead dough into a round disk.
- Olive oil cookie dough is sticky, so you will need to lightly flour a silicone mat and place it (flour side down) over the dough. Carefully roll until out dough until approximately 1-cm thick.
- Using cookie cutters, cut into desired shape. Dip a thin spatular into flour and gently transfer cut cookies at least 1-inch apart onto prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes for shapes approximately 4-inches long, 12 minutes for larger sizes.
- Remember, olive oil cookies do not brown. If you bake for too long, you will have firm, crisp cookies.
- Let sit on baking sheet for 10 minutes after removal from oven, and then using a thin spatula, transfer to a cooling rack.
- Serve as is or ice as desired. Store in airtight container for up to 1 week.
Notes:
Serving Suggestions: Serve alone or decorate with royal icing.
Cooking Tips: If you want a harder, crisper cookie, bake for 12 minutes. Remember, olive oil cookies do not brown. For darker cookies, use dark brown sugar.
Prep Time:
Yield: 32 cookies
Cook Time:
Total Time:
Worldwide Giveaway!
This giveaway now closed. I am giddy with excitement for today’s giveaway. This is a project that I find both inspiring and beautiful. In 2011, Japan suffered from a terrible earthquake and tsunami.
One of the towns seriously affected by this horrible disaster was Ishinomki, Japan. Sue Takamoto, an American Christian missionary from Hawaii, visited Ishinomaki with disaster relief for the community. It wasn’t too much of a surprise when she discovered many broken shards of pottery in the debris. Instead of seeing trash, Sue saw something beautiful – hope.
Sue founded The Nozomi Project (nozomi means ‘hope’ in Japanese), where the women from Ishinomaki can earn a sustainable income selling the jewelry they make from the broken shards of pottery caused by the 2011 disaster. Each of their product lines has been named by a Nozomi woman in honor of a loved one in her life.
I first heard about this wonderful project from Japanese blogger, Nami/Just One Cookbook. I fell in love with their story and quickly scoured their website, looking for a necklace to buy. So many gorgeous pieces varying from simple designs to more complex.
I purchased a piece from Kikuko’s collection. As it states on their website:
Kikuko works by the sea, mending fishing nets. When she first learned how to make this necklace, her net-mending skills proved helpful as she deftly tied each knot between every bead.
Beautiful stories like this are in every collection. When my necklace arrived, and it arrived quickly, I seriously fell in love with it. It was as gorgeous as it’s picture.
I wore my special necklace on Thanksgiving and received numerous compliments. Everyone loved it and you will fall in love their beautiful jewelry, too.
You could support Nozomi Project by shopping their accessories or donating directly to them. What a wonderful way to support the people of Ishinomaki to rebuild their lives. Wouldn’t their jewelry make a wonderful holiday gift for someone special you know?
And speaking of gifts, I am giving away a necklace AND earrings for one lucky winner!
Entering is easy. Just leave a comment below. And, if you give Nozomi Project a like on Facebook, you will get a bonus entry. Just leave the additional comment below, as well.
This giveaway closes on Thursday, December 17, 2015 at 12 p.m. PST and is open to participants worldwide (everyone!).
This giveaway is now CLOSED!
Although this giveaway is closed, please visit the Nozomi Project website. I’m sure you will find something special for that special woman in your life!
Priscilla @shescookin says
I love everything about this post – those adorable cookies, the cause, and the lovely Japanese jewelry! Great giveaway, thanks for sharing, Laura! Happy Holidays too you and your family!
Elena says
Hi Laura! You have a great website and fantastic recipes. Your gingerbread cookies are lovely and so are the jewelries by Nozomi Project. I would be happy to win one 🙂
Greetings from Romania!
Elena
Sandra Hurt says
Love the look of the Kaede Necklaces. Commented on both their fb & instagram pages.
Marisa says
Dear Laura,
the cookies look very cozy, beautiful work! I use olive oil for every of my recipes, I never use butter and I don´t miss it at all. Olive oil is a wonderful product.
I found Nozomi Project very inspiring. Thanks for sharing this with us!
Hugs,
Marisa
Adair @ Lentil Breakdown says
That cookie shaped to hang on a glass is GENIUS! And thanks for turning me onto the Nozomi Project. Their jewelry is beautiful.
Tania says
I have been following Nozomi Project for a while, I think it is great and Awesome. And your Gingerbread cookies are awesome. I bake everything from scratch here at home for my daughter but could never get the cookies to turn out just right. Thank you for sharing your lovely Recipe. We are going to try and make it later this month if we can get the money up for ingredients. Being a single mom and out of work right now near the holidays is not fun.
Sue Takamoto says
Hi Tania- Thanks so much for following Nozomi Project! I love when our Nozomi friends pop up in different places! I’m going to try and make gingerbread cookies with my kids as well!
Sue
Darlene Grant says
Love the Nozomi project. What a wonderful thing out of such a tragedy.
Zsofi Ordogh says
I like your website! Both the cookies and the jewelries are amazing! I follow you on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well 🙂
Jenny Gremm says
I love gingerbread too!!! Will have to try this one this year! I love the Nozomi jewelry too!!! They really do have beautiful pieces and that it is helping in the extended relief effort. Too often we tend to think of the restoration as just a short term thing but for those living through it, it does take much longer. It’s exciting to know that from brokenness can come such beauty!!!
Joyce Talkington says
Happy holidays, Laura.
I love these cookies and must give them a try! Big fan of olive oil and with twelve grandchildren I am sure there are going to be a lot of happy faces, Thank you for posting the recipe!
I ‘liked’ Nozomi Project a couple months ago and last week placed my third order. A great cause and beautiful jewelry! I treasured my years in Japan and my heart is warmer when I wear their offerings <3
Manda says
Live the project.
Isha Esses says
Laura,
Such a hopeful story you published today! I just love it when people tap into their ability to turn the “why?” into the “to what?”. Turn their tears into growth and beauty.
It reminded me of the the site of the Israeli artist who turns Qassam Rockets fired at his village into fabulous art. His way of transforming objects of war into expressions of peace.
If you have time look at: http://www.rocketsintoroses.com/ Just another of those hopeful projects. (I have nothing to do with his project, you just made me remember him.)
Thank you for sharing! May the person who wins wear the jewelry with humble pride!
Shalom from Israel
Dania Smith says
These are beautiful, and this is a great cause too – thank you for sharing about it!
Dania Smith says
I liked the Nozomi Project page on Facebook as well!
Maria Mills says
Love your recipes, always so tasty and interesting. Thank you
Anita k says
This was a very enjoyable read.I’m making these with my grandchildren.thanks so very much for sharing.following your great page on Facebook also.can’t wait to see what you do next.
Farrah says
Those cookies are adorable, and I love the cause and that super pretty jewelry! :] Thanks so much for having this giveaway!
AER says
Such beautiful jewelry! Thanks for the giveaway!
Liz Schmitt says
Yum, I can smell the gingerbread – thanks for supporting a wonderful cause. I miss you, in case you don’t know this 😉
Aaron says
The necklace and earrings are beautiful.
Aaron says
I gave the Nozomi Project a like on Facebook!
carla M says
Beautiful necklace and Earrings!
Amy @ Life to the Full says
Beautiful jewelry! Love the necklace especially 🙂
gloryj says
What a beautiful idea and such a creative group to make a positive out of such a negative event. The jewelry is so attractive and carries with it their hope for the future.
melanie mcclung says
beautiful jewelry through a tragic story – i love how something good can come from something so bad