You know what I love even more than a cookie?

More than one cookie.
And if those cookies are fluffy, ginger-spiced nuggets locked in a maple cream cheese embrace?
Let’s get hitched.
OK, no I’m not actually going to marry a cookie. For one, I like to think that Ben would be perturbed. For two, cookie monogamy sounds miserable.
Were I to lock it down forever with a baked good, however, these Ginger Molasses Maple Cream Sandwich Cookies would be a blissful choice.
Hence, I choose these fat little morsels of ginger glory as my contribution to the 1st Annual Blogging Buddies Virtual Cookie Exchange. I’ve teamed up with four of the web’s best bakers to bring you an appetizing array of cookie recipes. PLUS, I’m hosting another apron giveaway {details at bottom of post.} Best. Friday. Ever.
Bake any all of the below and be the star of your next cookie exchange!
- Turtle Thumbprint Cookies by Jessica of Portuguese Girl Cooks
- Granola and Graham Cracker Cookies with Chocolate Chips by Ashley of Baker By Nature
- Grandma’s Sugar Cookies by Joan of Chocolate, Chocolate, and More
- Heath Toffee Bars by Erin of Dinners Dishes and Desserts
And just for you: The Law Student’s Wife’s Ginger Molasses Maple Cream Sandwich Cookies.
We begin with twin puffs of holiday happiness, the ginger molasses cookies. Not for the flavor-shy, these babies pop with ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. Their texture is a pleasing paradox of classic cookie chew and soft cloud of ginger gladness.
Next, we gleefully squish our pleasingly plump ginger molasses cookies together, maple cream cheese frosting style. This dreamy filling delicately enhances the flavor of the cookies and happens to be killer good when licked directly off the back of a spoon. Don’t be shy.
Ginger Molasses Maple Cream Sandwich Cookies require little effort beyond letting the cookies cool long enough to prevent the filling from melting into maple cream hot lava, however enticing maple cream hot lava may sound. Do eat the obligatory, mouth-scorching, fresh-off-the-sheet cookie first. Then hide them. Try to forget about them. Ignore the fact that your house smells like a magical gingerbread palace.
Once the cookies cool, slather them with maple cream and reward yourself for your remarkable patience. You certainly deserve an extra Ginger Molasses Maple Cream Sandwich Cookie…or five.
Now onto the giveaway!
In honor the 1st Annual Blogging Buddies Virtual Cookie Exchange (and by popular demand) I’m hosting a second apron giveaway from Etsy shop MitzieAprons4U! I first shared my love of Mitzie’s aprons a few weeks ago and am thrilled to be featuring her again.
Look sassy while frosting that umpteenth batch of Christmas cookies, be the holiday Hostess with the Mostess, or surprise the baking queen in your life with one of Mitzie’s unique, handmade creations. One lucky winner will have her choice between the four festive aprons you see pictured in this post (the three below and the first pictured above).
For up to SIX entries to win a MitzieAprons4U holiday apron, complete the following. Each will earn you a separate entry to the giveaway.
Mandatory Entry: Visit Mitzie’s Etsy shop here and leave a comment on my blog below with a link to the apron you’d most like to wear while baking this holiday.
Entry 2: Like The Law Student’s Wife on Facebook here and leave a separate comment saying you did.
Entry 3: Subscribe to The Law Student’s Wife RSS feed OR become an email subscriber (enter your email address in the space provided at the upper right of this webpage) and leave a separate comment saying you did.
Entry 4: Tweet about the giveaway saying, “I just entered the @LawStudentsWife holiday apron giveaway! #giveaway bit.ly/W7Fieq” and leave a separate comment saying you did.
Entry 5: Tweet about the cookie exchange saying, “Fabulous, festive cookie recipes from Blogging Buddies Virtual Cookie Exchange#cookies bit.ly/W7Fieq” and leave a separate comment saying you did.
Entry 6: Follow @LawStudentsWife on Twitter and leave a separate comment saying you did.
Rules: Open to U.S. residents only. Giveaway runs from 12:00 AM EST 12/14/2012 through 12:00 AM EST 12/19/2012. Winner will be receiving his/her choice of ONE (1) of the 4 holiday aprons shown above (based on availability). One (1) winner with valid entry will be chosen by random.org. I will email the winner for shipping information. Winner will have 48 hours to respond, or I will choose another winner.
Disclaimer: I do own one of Mitzie’s aprons. Opinions are, always, 100% my own.
HAPPY BAKING!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour (or sub all-purpose flour)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 1/3 cup unsulfured molasses
- 1 egg, at room temperature
- Granulated sugar, for rolling the cookies
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened (I used reduced fat Neufchâtel)
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, sift together the whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt, then lightly stir to combine.
- In a large mixing bowl (or a standing mixer fit with the paddle attachment), beat the brown sugar, oil, and molasses on medium speed for 5 minutes. Turn the mixer to low, add the egg, and beat for 1 minute. Give the bowl a good scrape with a rubber spatula and beat for 1 more minute. With the mixer still on low, slowly add the dry ingredients to the bowl and mix on medium speed for 2 minutes.
- Use a spoon to scoop tablespoon-sized hunks of dough. With your hands, form dough into balls, then roll each cookie in granulated sugar. Place on prepared baking sheets. Bake for 9 minutes until just set. (They will appear underdone. Resist the urge to overbake). Let cool on the baking sheets for 1 to 2 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add maple syrup, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Continue beating until well combined and smooth.
- Slather a healthy dollop onto the flat side of a single cookie, then press against the flat side of a second to form a cookie “sandwich.” Enjoy and repeat!
Notes
Storage tip: If you will not be devouring all of the cookies in a single sitting, frost only what you plan to eat right away (plus one more—you’ll be glad you to have an “extra.”) Store the remaining cookies in an airtight container and the maple cream filling in the fridge.











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December 14, 2012 at 6:46 am
Your cookies look great – I love molasses cookies and interesting you put oil in yours, too! Add such a nice moisture, I think. And I love rolling them in cinnamon-sugar; it gets in all the cracks & crevices. Mmmm, good stuff
December 14, 2012 at 1:54 pm
Thanks so much Averie!
I’m ordinarily a butter girl all the way, but the oil made these super duper fluffy, which is what I was going for. And the more cinnamon and sugar the better!
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December 14, 2012 at 2:06 pm
Hi Erin. I tweeted about the apron giveaway…
December 17, 2012 at 3:38 pm
Also forgot to say that the Peace Joy Hope Holiday Apron with Polka Dots would be perfect for Chrismas cookies. The flour from the gingerbread cookies I made last week ended up everywhere (pants, shirt, hair…); the apron would be a festive fix. (;
December 17, 2012 at 3:45 pm
STORY OF MY LIFE! Aprons to the rescue. Thanks Georgia!
December 14, 2012 at 2:09 pm
… and I tweeted about the cookie exchange!
Also, have you thought about adding a “Pin It” Pinterest icon/button to your posts? Perhaps it is not too practical or neccessary, but it could boost your Pinterest presence a bit too! Those Ginger Molasses Maple Cream Sandwich Cookies look amazing. Definitely trying this weekend (and pinning presently).
December 14, 2012 at 2:11 pm
Oooh, disregard earlier comment… just saw the Pinterest button! Ha, early morning haze. My apologies!
~Georgia
December 14, 2012 at 5:08 pm
Thanks so much Georgia!! Hope you enjoy. Happy baking!
December 14, 2012 at 2:12 pm
These look AWESOME, Erin!!! I’ll take three please
December 14, 2012 at 5:05 pm
Hehehe. Thanks Ashley! I’ll take 3 as well!
December 14, 2012 at 2:25 pm
Gorgeous photos, Erin!! And more importantly, these cookies look divine… I conveniently have not one but three holiday parties this weekend, which seems like a perfect time to try them out!!
December 14, 2012 at 5:07 pm
Thanks Linds! Maybe someday I’ll be a real pro like you:-). Enjoy your round of parties. Sounds like so much fun!
December 14, 2012 at 2:29 pm
Your cookies sound fabulous!! Love how thick they are! Thanks for including me this year!
December 14, 2012 at 5:05 pm
Thanks so much Erin! We should do it again soon. Can’t wait to make your cookies too!
December 14, 2012 at 2:32 pm
Your cookies look amazing! I love molasses cookies and with a cream filling… YUM! I would love to wear the Classy Provence Bordeaux Wine Apron during all of my holiay baking!
December 14, 2012 at 5:04 pm
Thanks Becky! I’m a huge molasses fan too. It just makes everything so moist and flavorful!
December 14, 2012 at 2:33 pm
I also tweeted about your giveaway!
December 14, 2012 at 2:40 pm
YUM!! I love ginger cookies – I just made some last night. I need to make them into sandwich cookies now!
December 14, 2012 at 5:03 pm
Ginger cookies are one of my all time holiday faves Cassie! I’m sure yours are dlish!
December 14, 2012 at 3:06 pm
holy goodness these look amazing!
Put me in the hat to win this apron!!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/116823086/vintage-inspired-halter-flower-apron
December 14, 2012 at 5:02 pm
Thanks Elizabeth! Hope you enjoy!
December 14, 2012 at 7:01 pm
I like the polka dot apron. Thanks for the giveaway!
December 14, 2012 at 7:16 pm
So cute!! Thanks Chelsea. Happy holiday baking!
December 14, 2012 at 7:38 pm
Erin, I’d love to have this apron: http://www.etsy.com/listing/117859019/red-and-white-apron I love red! Thanks!
December 14, 2012 at 8:14 pm
Hi Mary! Thanks for subscribing and for enter the giveaway! Hope to see you back soon
December 15, 2012 at 2:39 pm
Thanks Mary! Excited to have you here!
December 14, 2012 at 7:42 pm
“Like” your facebook page!
December 14, 2012 at 7:42 pm
Subscribed to your email list so I don’t miss anything!
December 14, 2012 at 7:45 pm
Just tweeted your apron contest!
December 14, 2012 at 7:46 pm
Just tweeted about your cookie exchange! Hopefully lots will come!
December 14, 2012 at 7:46 pm
Following you on twitter!
December 15, 2012 at 3:57 am
I am loving ginger cookies this week and can’t wiat to bake more. I love the idea of turning them into sandwich cookies. These look GREAT!
December 15, 2012 at 2:38 pm
Thanks so much! The more, the merrier:-)
December 15, 2012 at 4:03 am
Erin, these cookies look absolutely fabulous! I adore molasses cookies, so these are definitely at the top of my to bake list! Thanks for hosting and organizing the fab event- can’t wait for next year!!
December 15, 2012 at 7:02 pm
I’m very lucky. I own one of Mitzie’s aprons! It is a full black denim apron with lady bugs! I would be honored to wear this one too: (jumping kitty) http://www.etsy.com/listing/113280503/jumping-kitty-cat-black-denim-half-apron.
December 17, 2012 at 12:22 am
It’s Mitzie great?! Thanks so much Anne. Cute apron choice too! Thanks for taking time to comment.
December 16, 2012 at 12:37 am
I love this apron. http://www.etsy.com/listing/116823086/vintage-inspired-halter-flower-apron
December 16, 2012 at 12:38 am
I am a fan on Fabebook!!!
December 16, 2012 at 12:38 am
I tweeted about the cookies!!!
December 16, 2012 at 12:39 am
I am a subscriber
December 16, 2012 at 12:40 am
I love these cookies so much!!!!! I made them earlier today and my soon to be lawschool boyfriend loves them!!!! Thanks
December 17, 2012 at 12:22 am
This makes me so happy Michelle!!! I’m thrilled that you (and your pre-law school BF) enjoyed them. When does he begin his studies?? Have a very happy holiday!
December 17, 2012 at 12:52 am
Thanks. He starts in the fall… so I feel like I’m going to be just like you soon!
December 16, 2012 at 2:51 am
Erin these cookies look so fluffy sweet and delicious!!!! Her apron’s are so cute…the holiday cookie apron is so fun for Christmas.
December 17, 2012 at 12:21 am
Thanks so much Angela! They really are fluff-tastic
Great apron choice too!
December 16, 2012 at 2:52 am
I likey like you on facebook!
December 16, 2012 at 8:02 pm
Hi Erin! Hope all is well! I love love love your food blog site! Great recipes and I’m SOOO excited to start making some of them
I love food blogs and yours is GREAT!
good luck with everything and I will keep on following.
Happy holidays!
- Val
December 17, 2012 at 12:19 am
Thanks so much Val!! You are too sweet. Wishing you a very merry Christmas. Have a lovely holiday and New Year!
December 16, 2012 at 11:02 pm
I love this apron! http://www.etsy.com/listing/116073881/peace-joy-hope-holiday-apron-with-polka
December 17, 2012 at 12:18 am
One of my favorites too Jess! Thanks for visiting and entering the contest.
December 16, 2012 at 11:03 pm
I liked you on FB!
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December 17, 2012 at 7:00 am
Erin, I could eat a bunch of these little sweet treat cookies.
December 17, 2012 at 7:01 am
I followed you on FB
December 17, 2012 at 7:03 am
I followed you on twitter
December 17, 2012 at 7:04 am
I tweeted about the giveway
December 17, 2012 at 7:07 am
This is a cute one for the holidays http://www.etsy.com/listing/84288955/holiday-candy-apron-with-ruffle-trim
December 17, 2012 at 7:09 am
tweeted about the cookie exchange, I hope to join you all next time you have something like this
December 17, 2012 at 3:43 pm
Thanks so much Suzanne! And absolutely, we’d love to have you next time around. Have a very merry Christmas!
December 19, 2012 at 9:52 pm
The cookies look amazing!! I like the red polka dot apron! Thanks for the giveaway! http://www.etsy.com/listing/107288070/love-those-red-polka-dots-half-apron sharoo1975@yahoo.com
December 19, 2012 at 11:45 pm
Thanks so much Sherry!
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