Spices for the spicy

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Made my mom some Chocolate Garam Masala Gingerbread cookies for Mother's day.

Garam masala is a spice mixture from India, and the thing about is that there is no set recipe. Every family has its version, a bit more of this or less of that, adjustments to location, etc. You can buy it premade, but there are many recipes on the web. I use Madhur Jaffrey's.


Chocolate Garam Masala Gingerbread Cookies


6 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1½ tbsps unsalted butter
3 tbsps corn syrup
3 tbsps water
3 cups all purpose flour, plus for dusting
2/3 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
¾ tsp fine salt
1½ tsps garam masala
12 tbsps unsalted butter, at room temperature (1½ sticks)
¾ cup light brown sugar
1 tbsp freshly grated ginger
1 large egg, lightly beaten
½ cup molasses
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp garam masala (or more to taste)
1½ tbsps egg white powder
3 cups confectioners' sugar
4 tbsps water
Toasted fennel seed, dried rose petals and gold or silver dragees, for garnish


( Combine the chocolate, butter, corn syrup, and water in a microwave-safe bowl... )