Creamy Ginger Filling Recipes

GINGER PASTRY CREAM (FOR DOUGHNUT FILLING)

Steps:

• Combine the sugar and crystallized ginger in a food processor and process until very fine.
• Bring the milk to a bare simmer in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat.
• Whisk the egg yolks, cornstarch and ground ginger together in a large bowl. Slowly whisk in the hot milk mixture, taking care not to scramble the eggs. Return the mixture to the suacepan and cook over medium heat until very thick, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, straining if necessary to remove any chunks. Stir in the crystallized ginger mixture, then cover with a sheet of plastic wrap pressed directly against the surface of the pastry cream to keep a skin from forming. Refrigerate until chilled.
• Beat the pastry cream in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until smooth before using.

GINGERSNAPS WITH ORANGE-GINGER CREAM FILLING

Steps:

• TO MAKE THE COOKIES:.
• In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt; set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter, brown sugar, and 1/2 cup granulated sugar until fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• Add molasses, egg, and vanilla, and beat at medium-high until incorporated, about 30 seconds.
• Reduce speed to low; add flour mixture and mix until well combined.
• Cover and chill at least 30 minutes or up to 1 day.
• Preheat oven to 350°F
• Place remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a shallow bowl.
• Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll in sugar to coat.
• Arrange about 2 inches apart on 2 ungreased baking sheets.
• Using the bottom of a glass that has been lightly greased, then dipped in sugar, flatten dough into 1/4-inch-thick disks.
• Bake 13 to 15 minutes, or until firm.
• Remove from oven and immediately transfer cookies to a cooling rack.
• TO MAKE THE FILLING:.
• In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients; mix until smooth, adding more powdered sugar as needed (filling should have consistency of very thick frosting).
• With a small spatula, frost bottoms of half the cookies (about 1teaspoon filling each); top with remaining cookies (so bottom sides are together) to make sandwich cookies.
• *The fresh ginger should be peeled unless otherwise noted. To grate fresh ginger, use a microplane grater or a triangular ginger grater, which will catch unwanted ginger fibers in its teeth, leaving behind a juicy, concentrated pulp.

GINGER CREME SANDWICH COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream shortening and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and molasses. In another bowl, whisk flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Refrigerate, covered, overnight., Preheat oven to 375°. Shape dough into 1-in. balls; roll in granulated sugar. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten with a fork, forming a crisscross pattern. Bake until set (do not overbake), 8-10 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool., Meanwhile, combine filling ingredients until smooth. Spread over bottoms of half of the cookies; cover with remaining cookies. Refrigerate.

TRIPLE-GINGER CREAM SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Make the cookies:
• Whisk ground ginger, fresh ginger, pepper, cinnamon, salt, baking soda, nutmeg, cloves, and 2 cups flour in a medium bowl; set aside.
• Beat brown sugar and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium speed until pale and fluffy, 3-4 minutes. Add egg yolks and molasses and beat until combined. Add dry ingredients and beat on medium-low speed until well combined, about 3 minutes.
• Divide dough between 2 pieces of plastic wrap and flatten each into an 8"-diameter disk. Wrap each disk in plastic and chill until firm, about 1 hour.
• Position racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 350°F. On a lightly floured surface, roll out 1 disk of dough to an 1/8" thickness. Using 2" round cutter, cut out rounds, rerolling scraps once (you should have 36 rounds).
• Arrange rounds on 2 parchment-lined baking sheets at least 1/2" apart; sprinkle with cane sugar. Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until cookies are puffed and edges are lightly golden, 8-10 minutes. Transfer sheets to wire racks and let cookies cool. Repeat with remaining dough.
• Make the filling and assemble the sandwiches:
• Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and candied ginger in the bowl of stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment on medium-high speed until smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• Just before serving, spread about 1 tsp. filling on flat side of half of the cookies. Sandwich with remaining cookies, sugared sides up.
• Do ahead
• Unfilled cookies can be made up to 1 week ahead; store in an airtight container at room temperature. Filling can be made 3 days ahead; chill in an airtight container. Let filling come to room temperature and fill cookies just before serving.