Around the holidays, boxes of homemade cookies are a mainstay on Cheryl Day’s kitchen counter. “They’re a sweet, sentimental reminder of the cookie boxes we used to make for gifts,” says Day, a Savannah, Georgia–based baker and best-selling author of Cheryl Day’s Treasury of Southern Baking, The Back In The Day Bakery Cookbook, and the forthcoming Cake Lady. “My mom always insisted on keeping a few extra boxes on hand for unexpected guests who might drop by—and I’ve happily carried on that tradition.”
Inside her boxes are a nostalgic childhood favorite: old-fashioned soft and chewy ginger molasses cookies. These cookies smell as good as they taste thanks to the generous amounts of spice and citrus. But don’t feel beholden to the recipe—Day sees it as a template for incorporating flavors you love. “I’ve taken a few liberties with the spices and encourage you to do the same,” she says. Try a pinch of white pepper for bonus zing or, say, a touch of allspice for a little extra warmth. “Play with your favorites—you just might discover a new combination you’ll love as much as those unexpected guests who show up at your door.”
