Ginger Creams (English and Spanish)
September 17, 2026
Women of Wisdom
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Ginger Creams
From Marj Hafen, Norma Hendrickson’s mom
1/4 cup shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg, well beaten
1/2 cup molasses or honey
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup hot water
1 tsp soda
Procedure
Cream shortening, add sugar gradually and mix well. Blend in egg, then molasses. Mix flour, salt and spices together and stir into mixture alternately with the hot water in which the soda has been dissolved. Chill dough. Drop by teaspoonfuls about 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet. Bake about 8 minutes at 400. Makes about 4 dozen cookies. While still warm, spread with thin white icing.
Notes: These were my favorite cookies and I often requested them as a birthday treat. This was a war-time recipe that used minimal amounts of ingredients that were rationed. I still remember the newspaper clipping my mom had saved with the recipe. It had a picture of a smiling soldier with the caption, “Servicemen Love Them.” I hope you will too.
En Español:
Traducido por Jessica Yanez Barker
Cremas de jengibre
De Marj Hafen, mamá de Norma Hendrickson
Ingredientes
1/4 taza de manteca vegetal
1/2 taza de azúcar
1 huevo, bien batido
1/2 taza de miel
2 tazas de harina
1/2 cucharadita de sal
1 cucharadita de jengibre
1/2 cucharadita de nuez moscada
1/2 cucharadita de clavos de olor
1/2 cucharadita de canela
1/2 taza de agua caliente
1 cucharadita de bicarbonato de sodio
Procedimiento
Bata la manteca y agregue el azúcar gradualmente, mezclando bien. Incorpore el huevo y luego la miel. Mezcle la harina, la sal y las especias, y añádalas a la mezcla alternando con el agua caliente en la que se ha disuelto el bicarbonato. Refrigere la masa. Coloque cucharaditas de masa en la bandeja para galletas, dejando unos 5 cm de separación entre cada una. Hornee aproximadamente 8 minutos a 400°F (200°C). Rinde unas 4 docenas de galletas. Mientras aún estén tibias, úntelas con un glaseado blanco ligero.
Notas:
Estas eran mis galletas favoritas y a menudo las pedía como mi regalo de cumpleaños. Esta era una receta de tiempos de guerra que usaba cantidades mínimas de ingredientes que estaban racionados. Todavía recuerdo el recorte de periódico que mi mamá había guardado con la receta. Tenía la foto de un soldado sonriente con el pie de foto: “Los militares las aman.” Espero que a ti también te gusten.

Norma Hendrickson
About the Author
Norma grew up in rural Utah in a home furnished with good books and music, the newspaper, and fresh-baked cookies. She still enjoys big ideas, baking, and sharing life with Clyde—her husband, best friend, and versatile life assistant. Norma had dreams of writing a newspaper column. She even earned a degree in newswriting at the University of Utah—30 years, five children, and several grandchildren after beginning at Snow College. Now she not only gets to write and edit, but also rub shoulders and share great ideas with the capable, passionate members of Big Ocean.