Makes 5 dozen cookies

Use cookie or baking sheets that measure at least 15 by 12 inches. Don’t be disconcerted by the scant amount of batter: You really are going to spread it very thin. Use the edges of the parchment paper as your guide, covering the entire surface thinly and evenly. For easier grating, freeze a 2-inch piece of peeled ginger for 30 minutes, then use a rasp-style grater.

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
The original recipes for Fairy Gingerbread Cookies melted in our mouths but were also severely lacking in flavor. A bit of vanilla extract and salt helped boost the otherwise bland confections. Doubling the ginger added a much-needed kick, but without any competing flavors it was overwhelming. We cut back a little and toasted the ground ginger to bring out its natural flavor. Grating fresh ginger straight into the batter added even more intense ginger flavor.

Switching from bread flour to all-purpose flour made the batter slightly easier to spread onto an overturned baking sheet or cookie sheet. A little baking soda helped retain the cookies’ airy crispness.

You might need to buy:
  • grated fresh ginger
  • packed light brown sugar
  • ground ginger

Makes about 28 cookies

You might need to buy:
  • milk chocolate chips
  • milk

Makes about 24 cookies

You might need to buy:
  • creamy peanut butter
  • butter
  • honey
  • firmly packed brown sugar
  • sweetened puffed wheat cereal

Makes about 24 cookies

You might need to buy:
  • ground cinnamon
  • ground ginger
  • vanilla extract
  • creamy peanut butter
  • dark corn syrup
  • packed dark brown sugar
  • ground gloves
  • crisp rice cereal

Makes about 30 cookies

You might need to buy:
  • silver almonds
  • white chocolate chips
  • almond extract

Makes about 24 cookies

You might need to buy:
  • Kellog's Special K cereal
  • corn syrup
  • creamy peanut butter
  • vanilla extract
  • sugar

Makes about 36

You might need to buy:
  • sweetened flake coconut
  • vanilla
  • butter
  • large marshmallows
  • milk chocolate chips
  • toffee baking bits
  • chopped pecans

Makes about 36 cookies

You might need to buy:
  • vanilla extract
  • large marshmallows
  • butter
  • semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • raisins

Makes about 36 cookies

You might need to buy:
  • vanilla extract
  • butterscotch baking chips

Makes about 36 cookies

You might need to buy:
  • ground ginger
  • grated lime zest
  • fresh lime juice
  • large marshmallows
  • butter
  • white chocolate chips
  • sweetened flake coconut