Dont overlook this deeply flavorful, sultry spice this holiday season.
At this time of year, peppermint gets all the love.
Not that its undeserved.
Photo:Getty Images. EatingWell design.
But theres another ingredient that is just as evocative of the holiday season but often overlooked.
Im talking about sweet, spicy ginger.
And Im not discriminating.
I mean ginger in all its forms: ground, fresh, crystallized.
In my opinion, ginger is the most underrated ingredient for holiday baking.
You cant make gingerbread cutout cookies,ginger molasses cookies,gingerbread cakeorother gingerbread treatswithout it.
We would roll the dough balls in sugar so the cookies sparkled after they were baked.
As the years have gone by, Ive fallen in love with ginger even more.
I also enjoy ginger ingingerbread cakes, loaves and brownies.
The most familiar place to find ginger in holiday baking, though, is likely gingerbread cutout cookies.
Maybe even while theres some snow falling.
But depth of flavor isnt the only thing ginger has going for it.
Ginger also has manyhealth benefits.
It can help soothe an upset stomachwhich might come in handy if you eat too many holiday cookies!
Plus, ginger contains the anti-inflammatory compound gingerol.
I promise you wont regret it.
