UH-mazing holiday recipes: Chibi Confectionery gingerbread cookies

The holiday season is here, and UH News is asking members of the University of Hawaiʻi ʻohana to share their favorite recipes. The hope is these recipes and the short stories that accompany them will give everyone some ideas for the holidays along with some good feelings of the season.

Garrett Shiroma, a proud Leeward Community College alumnus, is the owner of Chibi Confectionery, a local small business that specializes in small cookies and artisan desserts. Shiroma is also a graduate of Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center’s (WVAPDC) ʻĀina to Mākeke Cohort 1.

“I chose to apply because I felt stagnant with my company,” said Shiroma. “The structured program gave me the kickstart I needed to expand Chibi Confectionery.”

This holiday season, Shiroma is sharing Chibi Confectionery’s Gingerbread Cookie Recipe with the UH community.

Check out previous holiday recipes

“About 15 years ago, I started baking a bunch of cookies for friends and family and the most requested cookie year after year has been this gingerbread,” said Shiroma. “It has all those warm spices that go great with milk or ice cream, and it’s a fun activity to do with the family.”

Chibi Confectionery Gingerbread Cookies:

Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/3 pound butter (1 1/3 sticks)
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup of molasses

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy.
2. Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth and well incorporated.
3. Pour in the molasses and continue mixing until fully combined.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a thick dough forms.
6. Once the dough is fully mixed, refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to chill and firm up the dough.
7. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
8. Roll out the dough on parchment paper to approximately 1/4 inch thickness. Use a gingerbread cookie cutter to shape the dough, then place the cookies on a baking sheet, spacing them 1–2 inches apart.
9. Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the edges are slightly golden and the cookies have set.
10. Remove from the oven and allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
11. Enjoy!