Ginger Rosemary Shortbread Cookies

This post is sponsored by Sprouts Farmers Market. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support The Speckled Palate!

Nothing says winter HOLIDAYS like rosemary and ginger together in a decadent, hand-held dessert! Feel free to swoon over Ginger Rosemary Shortbread Cookies! Not too sweet and bursting with flavor, this adaptation of a classic shortbread cookie adds savory, herbaceous elements to the seasonal cookie table. With a handful of simple ingredients, these refreshing Ginger Rosemary Shortbread Cookies are sure to become a favorite this holiday season!

When I lived in Mississippi, my mother visited every spring and helped plant various herbs and plants in pots on my little apartment balcony.

Without fail, we’d purchase a rosemary plant yearly, and every year, she’d plant it.

And every year, I’d eventually try to kill it because I got sick of rosemary-flavored EVERYTHING.

Let it be known that rosemary bushes have a will to live unlike any other plant I’ve ever encountered. And that’s saying a lot because I’ve had a lot of chances to curse plants with my apparent black thumb.

Ferns? One missed watering and dead.

Basil? Burns up in the sun every time.

Mint? Forgetaboutit.

But rosemary is somethin’ else.

Then a few years back, one of my sorority sisters mentioned something about some magical rosemary shortbread cookies she’d made.

I was skeptical. But I also wanted to try them because maybe THAT was a way to get my tastebuds to like rosemary again.

Turns out—shocker—that the shortbread cookies did the trick!

So when my friends at Sprouts approached me about participating in this year’s Incredible Bulk Bin Treat Exchange, I knew what I wanted to make: a rendition of those magic shortbread cookies, but with rosemary AND ginger.

This year’s treat exchange is similar to last. I’d make and perfect a new seasonal cookie recipe, then send it to two other bloggers. They’d send me theirs, too.

This year, I ended up with cookies from Glorious Treats and Pook’s Pantry. And y’all, they are SOOOOOOOOO tasty. (Please be sure to go check out their recipes today and bake them yourself because YUM.)

This treat exchange, other than spreading holiday cheer between bloggers, celebrates the Sprouts Incredible Bulk Sale, which runs from December 8-10. All Bulk Department items (excluding pre-packaged ones) will be 25% off during that time.

And, hey, most of the cookie ingredients below can be found in the Bulk Department. So y’all should take advantage of that and pick some up for some friendly holiday baking!

These shortbread cookies are becoming my new favorite. And I don’t say that lightly because y’all know how much I enjoy cookies of all shapes and sizes.

The thing about this Ginger Rosemary Shortbread is it’s decadent, but light. It’s sweet, but not cloying. The rosemary adds herbaceousness to the cookies without overwhelming the buttery cookie base. The ginger adds a bit of a zing and some crunch to the sugar rolled on the outside.

When a friend bit into one of the cookies for the first time, she looked at me, somewhat perplexed, and said, “They taste… refreshing?”

And they are. A refreshing cookie, as bizarre as that sounds, and utterly delightful.

So if you’ve ever wanted to try a savory cookie and are unsure about the rosemary, take it from me, someone who normally cannot stand any amount of the herb: This Ginger Rosemary Shortbread is something you’ll want to try. I guarantee it.

Also, it’s National Cookie Day!

So let’s celebrate by baking up something decadent and beautiful for the upcoming holidays.

Scroll on down to learn how to make this gorgeous shortbread! You’ll be glad you did!

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Yield: 30 cookies

Ginger Rosemary Shortbread Cookies

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Chilling Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Nothing says winter HOLIDAYS like rosemary and ginger together in a decadent, hand-held dessert! Feel free to swoon over Ginger Rosemary Shortbread Cookies! Not too sweet and bursting with flavor, this adaptation of a classic shortbread cookie adds savory, herbaceous elements to the seasonal cookie table. With a handful of simple ingredients, these refreshing Ginger Rosemary Shortbread Cookies are sure to become a favorite this holiday season!

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Ingredients

Cookies

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (2 sticks)
• ¼ cup pure maple syrup
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped

Ginger Sugar

• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ tablespoon fresh ginger, grated

Instructions

Make the Cookie Dough

1. In a large bowl, cream the softened butter, maple syrup and powdered sugar together using a hand mixer.
2. Sift the flour, salt and ground ginger into a separate bowl. Measure in the fresh rosemary. Whisk together, then sprinkle into the wet ingredients, stirring until the batter just comes together.
3. Place a long piece of plastic wrap on the counter.
4. Dollop the batter into the center of the plastic wrap to form a log shape.
5. Seal by folding the plastic wrap over the cookie batter, then roll to create a rounded cookie log.
6. Transfer the log to the refrigerator and chill for at least an hour.
7. Chill in the refrigerator for at least two hours. (I left mine overnight, and that was ideal.)

Make the Cookies

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat.
2. In a small bowl, combine the granulated sugar and the ginger. Mix together using a fork or a spoon.
3. Remove the cookie log from the refrigerator.
4. Sprinkle the ginger sugar onto a flat surface, and roll the dough log over it until the outside is completely coated.
5. Using a pastry scraper, slice the dough into ½" thick cookies.
6. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet, leaving 1" around each cookie.
7. Once all the cookies have been sliced and placed on their baking sheet(s), transfer them to the freezer for a 10-minute chill.
8. Once chilled, transfer the baking sheet(s) to the preheated oven.
9. Bake 15-20 minutes, or until the tops are slightly golden.
10. Let cool on a wire rack, then enjoy!

Notes

Please note that the total time listed above includes the chilling time. These cookies should not take 2 hours and 30 minutes to make. 😉

Adapted from my Toasted Pecan Shortbread Cookies recipe.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

30

Serving Size:

1 cookie
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 112Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 37mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 0gSugar: 7gProtein: 1g

Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate.

How do you feel about rosemary?

Would you like to try one of these shortbread cookies?