Lemon Ginger Cookies

To make things more visually interesting and to carry on with the helo-yourself feel of the evening, keep the dessert course loose and carefree.  Set out the roasted pears, then place some drop cookies on a platter, with squared of store-bought dark chocolate, dried fruits, and toasted nuts.

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, plus more for sprinkling

1 large egg

1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest (from 1 lemon)

1 1/3 cups a;;-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon diced, crystallized ginger, plus 3 tablespoons slivered.

1.  Preheat oven to 350℉.  Line two baking sheets with parchment.  With an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar on medium-high until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes, scraping down sides of the bowl.  Add egg; mix on high to combine.  Add zest; mix to combine.
2.  In a bowl, whisk together flour, ground ginger, baking soda salt, and diced crystallized ginger; add to butter mixture and mix on medium-low just to combine.
3. Using two spoons, drop about 2 teaspoons of batter 3 inches apart on baking sheets.  Bake cookies 7 minutes.  Sprinkle cookies with sugar, top each with a few ginger slivers, rotate sheets, and bake until cookies are just golden, about 7 minutes more.  Slide parchment with cookies onto a wire rack and let cook, about 15 minutes.  (store in airtight containers up top 1 week.)

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