Chocolate-Ginger Freezer Cookies

Ingredients

• 2-3 inch piece of fresh ginger root, peeled and grated
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp finely ground black pepper (or ground ginger if this scares you)
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 12 oz bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
• crystallized ginger to decorate

Instructions

1. Combine cocoa, flours, salt and pepper.
2. Beat butter until creamy, 30 seconds.
3. Add brown sugar and continue beating until fluffy.
4. Beat in egg yolks, vanilla, and ginger until smooth.
5. Stir in flour mixture until blended.
6. Scrape dough onto a piece of plastic wrap and shape into a 3-inch log.
7. Wrap tightly and freeze until hard (up to 2 months).
8. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
9. Cut frozen dough into 1/4-inch slices and place on baking sheet.
10. Bake until lightly browned, about 15 minutes.
11. Cool completely on a wire rack.
12. Melt the chocolate and cool to a spreading consistency.
13. Spread a little on each cookie and top with crystallized ginger. Makes about 3 dozen.