RECIPE: Homemade gingersnaps almost too good to gift

What better way to spread a little

goodwill this season than with a plate of homemade cookies? These old-fashioned gingersnaps are the perfect addition to your holiday spread, or they make a thoughtful hostess gift tied in festive ribbon. Baked with sweet spices, these morsels make the kitchen smell like Christmas, and using holiday cookie cutters is an extra-special touch. Dunking in a warm cup of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate is highly recommended!

SNACK & STROLL

Attending a holiday party this month? Treat the host or hostess to a locally bought trinket – perfect for adorning your packaged homemade snaps. Immerse yourself in the jubilant mood by attending strolls and shopping events happening in every corner of the state this month, often backdropped by the sound of carolers and with warm bevvies on hand.

DECEMBER 1-3: Three Nights of Lights, Providence, ThreeNightsOfLights.com

December 1, 8, 15 & 22: Chepachet Village Candlelight Shopping, Glocester, CandlelightShopping.com

December 2: Tiverton Four Corners Holiday Bright Night, TivertonFourCorners.com

December 2-3: 22nd Annual Candlelight Stroll, Scituate, Facebook: NSVBA Scituate RI

December 3: Holidays in Pawtuxet Village, Warwick, FriendsOfPawtuxetVillage.org

December 3: Narragansett Holiday Street Faire, NarragansettCOC.com

December 7: 25th Annual Holiday Stroll & Luminaria, Westerly, OceanChamber.org

December 10-11: Bristol Christmas Festival, ChristmasBristolRI.com

OLD-FASHIONED SOFT GINGERSNAP COOKIES

INGREDIENTS

• 3¾ cups sifted flour • ¼ tsp salt • 2 tsp cinnamon powder • 2 tsp ginger powder • ½ cup room-temperature butter • 1 cup granulated sugar • 1 egg • ½ cup molasses • ½ Tbsp baking soda • ½ cup strong coffee, room temperature (or not too hot)

STEPS

1. Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Sift the flour, salt, and spices into a large bowl. 2. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, ideally using a stand mixer but a sturdy spatula will do. You may need to stop the machine and scrape the mixture from the sides of the bowl a few times.

3. Add eggs and molasses to the stand mixer or bowl. Mix until fully combined. 4. Dissolve the baking soda in the coffee. Add the flour mixture to the stand mixer alternately with the coffee and mix just enough after each addition to combine the ingredients. 5. Ball the dough (it will be sticky!), and wrap with plastic wrap. Place the dough ball in the refrigerator until fully chilled, at least 3 hours, preferably overnight. 6. Once chilled, roll the dough out on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. For softer cookies, roll until about ⅜” thick. For snappier cookies, roll until about 1/6” thick. Cut with any cookie cutter you like, or use the opening of a glass cup for round shapes. This recipe makes 24-34 cookies depending on chosen thickness. 7. Remove the extra dough around the cookie cut-outs, and space out cookies so there is room between them.

8. Sprinkle generously with granulated sugar. Bake in the oven for about 9 minutes.

9. Transfer to a cooling rack. Store in an airtight container, or enjoy warm!

Eight Nights of Noshes

Let local markets and bakeries take care of your Hanukkah feasts

By Patty J

Rugelah from Just Like Nana’s

Hanukkah (or Chanukah, the eight-day Festival of Lights) begins December 18 after sunset and ends the night of December 26 this year. With the goal of traditional food making an appearance all eight nights, we’re spotlighting eight local caterers, markets, and makers dishing up everything from brisket and kugel to sweets like sufganiyot (fried jelly filled donuts) that you’re gonna love a latke.

Bubbie’s Market & Deli

Beyond their regular menu of deli sandwiches, sides like potato salad, and bagels with lox, Bubbie’s also has some of the yummiest beef brisket in Lil’ Rhody. The best part? You can carry some out for your holiday dinner without any of the fuss of preparing it at home. Providence, BubbiesMarket.com

BUNS Bakery

A newish bakery on the rise, BUNS offers online ordering for home delivery Fridays in Providence, as well as Friday and Saturday pick-up locations statewide. Along with outstanding tarts and rugelach, preordering a Ceremonial Challah is a must for Hanukkah 2022 – it tastes just as amazing as it looks. East Providence, BunsBakeryRI.squarespace.com

Dave’s Marketplace Catering

Want all the warm and crispy goodness of latkes without spending hours in the kitchen? Of course you do – that’s where Dave’s comes in. Half pans of 20 are available for preorder 72 hours in advance. All you have to do is decide whether you want to enjoy your potato pancakes with applesauce, sour cream, or both. All locations, DavesCateringRI.com

Eastside Marketplace

The deli inside this market has all the kosher-friendly prepared foods you’ll need for hosting a Hanukkah dinner. It’s a one-stop shop for kugel, knishes, and matzoh balls (and the chopped liver and lox spread is delish). Their catering department will also help you plan the entire meal out, from bagel dip and latkes to slow-roasted salmon. Providence, EastsideMarket.com

Just Like Nana’s

Owner Karen Griffin bakes four different flavors of rugelah (raspberry walnut, apricot walnut, cinnamon, chocolate) the way her grandmother taught her, only with healthier ingredients. Special order a platter or deluxe sampler of these decadent rolled and filled pastries for pick-up at her food trailer at Lorraine Mills. Pawtucket, JustLikeNanas.com

Like No Udder

You may know Like No Under for their vegan ice cream, but I was pleasantly surprised to find they also cook up challah (rolls and loaves) and knishes (potato and onion) from