No matter what the occasion, you can never go wrong with a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies. This recipe for Candied Ginger and Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies puts a sweet and spicy twist on a classic chocolate chip cookie. They’re sure to satisfy any chocolate chip cookie fan, adding a generous amount of candied ginger to a buttery, chewy oatmeal cookie base.

Ginger is a warm, spicy flavor that is delicious all year round, but that I particularly enjoy in the cooler months of the year. In fact, although these are not a traditional “Christmas cookie” recipe, I’ll often include them on my holiday cookie plates! There is candied ginger mixed into the dough, but the dough itself is made with ground ginger and a hint of cinnamon. The ground ginger gives the cookies a nice all-over heat, while the pieces of candied ginger add spicy sweetness when you bite into them. The cinnamon gives a little bit of depth to all that ginger, too.

I included both dark chocolate and milk chocolate chips in the cookies. Both types of chocolate go very well with ginger in general. Milk chocolate has a nice sweetness to temper the spice of the ground ginger. Dark chocolate has a bitterness that brings out the sweetness of the candied ginger. Together, they really create a great balance in these cookies.

The finished oatmeal cookies have a crisp edge and a chewy center. They’ll keep their texture when stored in an airtight container for at least two days. Since oatmeal can dry out cookies a bit during baking – and that is why this recipe includes a small amount of milk to add a bit more liquid to the dough – be sure not to over-bake them or you’ll end up with a cookie that is more crispy than chewy.

Candied Ginger and Milk Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 tbsp milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups quick cooking oatmeal
1 cup dark chocolate chips
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup finely chopped, candied ginger

Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, ground ginger, ground cinnamon and salt.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and the sugars until mixture is light in color. Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the milk and the vanilla extract. With the mixer on low speed, gradually blend in the flour mixture until just incorporated.
Stir in the oats, chocolate chips and ginger. Dough will be thick, so this can be done by hand or with a mixer.
Drop 1-inch balls of dough onto the cookie sheet, placing about 1 1/2 inches apart so they have room to spread.
Bake at 350F for 10-13 minutes, until golden brown at the edges and light golden at the center.
Cool on baking sheet for at least 1-2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 3 1/2 – 4 dozen.

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