My Christmas Bakery is in full swing. This week I made a ton of Razz-Ma-Tazz Bars which seem to be everyone’s favorite. I made my first brittle and a whole bunch of different Christmas cookies, which I will be posting in the next few days. For today I chose the ginger polenta cookies. These are new to me and they have exceeded my expectations. I adapted the recipe from one of the many holiday cookie magazines that I’ve collected over the years.
Ginger Polenta Cookies (with cranberries and walnuts)
Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups (320 g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (80 g) polenta or yellow cornmeal
- 1/2 cup (50 g) toasted nuts (walnuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, etc. – I’ve used walnuts)
- 1/2 cup dried (50 g) cranberries (finely chopped)
- 1/2 orange (zest + 1 TBSP juice)
- Pinch of salt
- 2 sticks (225 g) butter, softened
- 3/4 cup (150 g) sugar
- 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk
- 1/4 cup (40 g) crystallized ginger (finely chopped)
- 1/2 TSP ground ginger
Preparation:
- Stir together flour, polenta, nuts, cranberries and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.
- Beat butter and sugar in a mixer bowl at medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, egg yolk, orange zest and juice, chopped ginger and ground ginger. Add flour and mix at low speed until combined.
- Gather dough into a ball and divide in half. Shape into 2 (9 inch) logs and wrap in plastic wrap with ends sealed. Refrigerate 4 to 6 hours or until firm.
- Preheat oven to 300 F (150 C). Cut logs into 1/4 inch slices and place them onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Bake 15-18 minutes or until slightly golden at edges. Cool completely and serve.
*** I added a bit of chopped candied lemon peel for a hint of green color.
Bon Appetite!
bakingwithsibella.com 
They look delicious. Your family is definitely going to feast at the holiday. Your images look like they’re from a magazine.
Thanks Darryl! I must say I do enjoy setting up my little props and taking food photos (maybe it is the artist in me)… 😉
Wow what a very unique cookie. Using polenta is a very delicious idea and of course the addition of ginger is nice and warming- perfect for this time of the year. Happy holidays to you and your family. Take care, BAM
Thanks Bobbi! This is the first time I made these and they have surprised me in a good way. They are so full of flavor! Happy Holidays! 🙂
Such a good-looking cookies, Sibella. Every ingredient in it appeals to me! Great idea! Happy holidays…
Thanks Kathleen! I have a feeling these cookies will be one of the favorites for years to come! Happy Holidays to you and your family! 🙂
I just duscovered your blog! I’m obsessed with ginger and I’ve never heard of such a thing as ginger polenta cookies! I’m so intrigued! I bet they taste amazing!! They are beautiful too…love the specks of color throughout!
Thanks for stopping by! 🙂 They are new for me too. I found them in one of my old recipe books from 2005. I must say they are superb in taste and so easy to make!
Gorgeous! I love it when a new recipe turns out better than expected 🙂 Merry Christmas Sibella, I hope you have a wonderful holiday with your family! ❤
Thank you my friend!:) I hope this Christmas brings you a lot of love, hope, laughter, happiness and peace! ❤
Lovely…and Merry Christmas.
I’m new to your blog, but I am already hooked! you have a really nice collection here, and the photos are stunning. Love the addition of polenta in cookies, they look like healthy indulgence. Happy to be your follower:-)
Welcome, thanks for visiting and following! 🙂 These cookies are definitely on a healthy side, not too sweet and very, very flavorful! Thanks again for your compliments! Sibella