We had a few friends over for Friday night cocktails, and I needed a simple something sweet to serve along with the appetizers.

Cookies are a good way to go for a casual gathering – people can eat as many as they want, when they feel like it, and they’re not as high-maintenance as something like a frosted layer cake.

I got it in my head I wanted to make a fun, out of the ordinary cookie. These ginger molasses cookies have chocolate added to the mix – that’s different. And then I went a step further, and used ABC (Already Been Chewed) cookie cutters. Poor gingerbread men, they met a terrible fate.

These were fun to decorate, but I had to thicken the glaze up quite a bit to have some control. A standard royal icing would work well too. The cookies were okay for the party (maybe a little dry? I may have overbaked them), but they seemed to get better after a day or two – moister, softer, more flavorful. They’re not too sweet and have a nice level of spice to them.

To get the recipe, click on over to Serious Eats.

• Chocolate Ginger Molasses Cookies (Baked Explorations, p. 105)