• ¾ cup butter
• 3 tablespoons ginger
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon finely ground black pepper
• ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper or to taste
• 1¼ cups packed dark brown sugar
• ¼ cup molasses
• 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped crystalized ginger
• 1 egg plus 1 egg yolk
• 2½ cups plain flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• sparkling sugar as needed

Ginger Crackles

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• 2½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1½ cups sugar, divided
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg
• Up to 2 tablespoons milk, as needed

Additional tools: a glass with a pattern on the bottom for pressing the cookies

Note: substitute 1/2 cup cocoa for 1/2 cup flour for chocolate sugar cookies

Mom's Sugar Cookies

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