Sugarbaby's Ginger Cookies

-These ginger cookies have a more intense spicy flavor than the previously posted "Ensley's Ginger Cookies." They are delicious!
Yield: 30 cookies

Ingredients:

-2 cups unsalted butter, room temp.

-2/3 cup sugar

-1 cup brown sugar

-3/4 cup molasses

-2 eggs

-4 ½ cups flour

-2 tsp. baking soda

-2 Tbs. ground ginger

-2 tsp. cinnamon

-1 tsp. ground cloves

-1/2 tsp. nutmeg

-1 tsp. salt

-1 tsp. white pepper

-1 cup chopped crystallized ginger

-1 cup sanding or turbinado sugar

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

-In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, white sugar, brown sugar, and molasses until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, incorporating well after each addition.

-In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and six spices. With the mixer on low speed, gently add the flour mixture. Be very careful not to overmix; stop the mixer just as you are positive that the flour is completely incorporated.

-Fold in the crystallized ginger and chill the dough, covered, for a few hours or overnight.

-Using a large cookie scoop, scoop the cookies and dip them in sanding sugar so that they are completely coated. Place the cookies on a parchment-lined sheet pan, spacing them 2 inches apart to allow for spreading.

-Bake for about 15 minutes. The cookies will crack a bit but should still be soft in the middle. Place on wire racks to cool.