Why it works: Molasses and ginger are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 14% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 4,116 recipes. Both carry ethanol, which smells alcoholic, ethereal. The science ↓
Ginger Snaps II
Ingredients
Directions
Make the dough
Heat the molasses with the shortening.
Mix together the flour, baking powder, ginger, and salt.
Add this mixture to the molasses and shortening.
Let cool.
Toss dough when cool on a floured pastry board.
Shape and bake
Roll out thin and cut with a biscuit cutter.
Place cut pieces on a greased pastry sheet.
Bake in a moderate oven for about 10 minutes.
Ginger snaps must be crisp.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 5 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 1 cup (125g) all-purpose | 455 |
| Butter | 1 tbsp (14g) | 102 |
| Molasses | 1 tbsp (20g) | 58 |
| Ginger | 1 tsp grated fresh (2g) | 2 |
| Salt | 1 tsp (6g) | 0 |
One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.
Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.
Explore the science
The flavor team
The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.
-
Molasses + gingertop 14% of all pairsSmell alikelowCooked together4,116 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
-
Flour + gingertop 15% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together8,564 recipes
Shared aroma: isobutyraldehyde (malty, green).
-
Flour + molassestop 16% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together10,429 recipes
Shared aroma: ethanol (alcoholic, ethereal).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Flour
- Provides the structure that holds the dough together as it bakes.
- Molasses
- Adds sweetness, moisture and a deep flavour that helps the snaps brown.
- Shortening
- Adds fat that tenderises the dough and helps it spread and crisp.
- Baking powder
- Releases gas during baking to lighten the dough slightly.
The step that matters
Rolling the dough thin. Thin dough has little moisture to hold, so it dries and crisps in the oven. Thick pieces stay soft in the centre, so the snaps will not be crisp.
Swap the ginger
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (flour, molasses):
- Jalapenofits better
- Cinnamonfits better
- Allspicefits about as well
- Gingerthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against flour, molasses. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
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