Cashew Crowned Cinnamon Ginger Pecan Cookies
Cookies with brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, almond extract, chopped pecans; topped with a cashew crown and sprinkled with white sugar.
This recipe for Cashew Crowned Cinnamon Ginger Pecan Cookies offers a unique twist on classic cookies, infusing them with a rich blend of spices and nuts. Starting with a creamy base of softened butter and a mix of light and dark brown sugars, the dough achieves a deep, caramel-like sweetness. The addition of a single egg provides moisture and binds the ingredients. A clever technique of dissolving baking soda in hot water before adding it to the mix ensures a perfect texture. The spices – ground ginger and cinnamon – coupled with almond extract, impart warm, aromatic flavors that are both comforting and inviting. Flour and salt are mixed in gradually to maintain a tender crumb. The dough is then enriched with chopped pecans, adding a delightful crunch and nutty taste. Each cookie is carefully shaped using a scoop and adorned with a whole cashew, creating an attractive presentation. A sprinkle of granulated sugar on top adds a subtle sparkle and a slight crunch. Baked to perfection at 350°F until the edges are golden, these cookies emerge as a harmonious blend of textures and flavors. The final touch, a brief cooling period on the baking sheet followed by a transfer to a cooling rack, ensures they retain their shape while developing the perfect bite.
Servings
18-24 cookies
Prep Time
20 minutes
Bake Time
10 minutes
Total Time
30-40 minutes
Ingredients
- 10 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon hot water
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1/2 cup pecans, chopped
- 1/2 cup whole cashews (for topping)
- White granulated sugar (for sprinkling)
Instructions
Cream Butter and Sugar:
- In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and light brown sugar until smooth.
Add Wet Ingredients:
- Beat in the egg. Dissolve the baking soda in hot water and add to the bowl. Mix well.
Add Dry Ingredients:
- Gradually mix in the flour, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and almond extract on low speed until just combined.
Fold in Pecans:
- Gently fold in the chopped pecans.
Shape Cookies:
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a 2-inch scoop, drop dough balls onto the sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Press a whole cashew into the center of each cookie, ensuring it’s halfway inserted. Sprinkle the tops lightly with white granulated sugar.
Bake:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the cookies for 10 minutes or until the edges are slightly golden.
Cool:
- Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.
Cream together 1/2 cup light brown sugar, 1/2 cup dark brown sugar, 10 tablespoons softened butter.
Add one egg and mix again.
Stir together 1/2 teaspoon baking powder with 1 tablespoon hot water and add to mixing bowl and stir again.
Add 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, and 1 teaspoon almond extract. Mix together thoroughly at low speed.
Add 1/2 cup of chopped pecans and stir together.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a 2 inch scooper to drop onto the paper with about 2″ space between them.