Description
Jamaican frosted spice island cookies blend Caribbean warmth with sweet complexity. Rich layers of nutmeg, ginger, and cinnamon invite bakers to explore island-inspired culinary delights.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ¼ cups (298 ml) all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup (57 g) butter, softened
- ¼ cup (50 g) dark brown sugar
- ½ tbsp (7.5 ml) vanilla or maple extract
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) maple syrup
- 1–2 tbsps (15–30 ml) whipping cream
- 2 cups (240 g) confectioners’ sugar
- ½ cup (60 g) finely chopped walnuts, toasted
- 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ¼ tsp baking soda
Instructions
- Prep Station: Position oven rack at center, heat to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment or silicone mats.
- Butter Fusion: Cream butter and sugar using electric mixer until fluffy and pale, approximately 2 minutes. Incorporate egg and vanilla, blending until silky smooth.
- Dry Ingredient Harmony: Whisk flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, baking powder, and salt together, creating a fragrant spice blend.
- Dough Formation: Fold dry ingredients into butter mixture, mixing gently until uniform cookie dough develops. Avoid overmixing to maintain tender texture.
- Cookie Placement: Scoop rounded tablespoons of dough onto prepared sheets, allowing 2-inch intervals for potential spreading during baking.
- Baking Process: Slide trays into preheated oven, bake 10-12 minutes until edges transform to light golden brown and centers appear set.
- Cooling Technique: Allow cookies to rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire cooling rack for complete temperature reduction.
- Frosting Crafting: Whisk powdered sugar, vanilla, maple syrup, and heavy cream until achieving smooth, spreadable consistency. Adjust thickness as needed.
- Final Embellishment: Once cookies reach room temperature, generously spread frosting across surface. Sprinkle chopped walnuts for sophisticated crunch and flavor complexity.
Notes
- Butter Temperature Matters: Ensure butter is softened but not melted for optimal cookie texture and smooth creaming.
- Spice Blend Balance: Freshly ground spices will elevate the cookie’s depth of flavor compared to pre-ground store-bought versions.
- Precise Measuring Technique: Use dry measuring cups for flour and level off with a straight edge to prevent dense, tough cookies.
- Cooling Is Crucial: Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for exactly 5 minutes before transferring to prevent breaking and help set their structure.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Caribbean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 25
- Calories: 165
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 40 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg