Gingerbread Apple Cocktail Adapted From Pong Recipes

Steps:

• Spread agave syrup or honey on a plate and dip the rim of a chilled cocktail glass into it to lightly coat the edges.
• Spread the crumbled cookies on another plate and dip the coated rim into the crumbs so that they adhere.
• Add the liquid ingredients to a cocktail shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into the prepared glass and float the orange zest on top.

Steps:

• Combine amaretto, molasses, allspice, and pumpkin pie spice in a small saucepan over medium heat and cook until molasses is melted. Remove from heat and allow to cool briefly, 5 to 10 minutes
• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add vodka, Irish cream liqueur, and amaretto mixture. Shake well to blend and strain into a cocktail glass. Serve with gingersnap cookies.

Steps:

• For the syrup: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the water, sugar, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved.
• Remove the pan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool, about 20 minutes. Remove and discard the ginger, cinnamon, and cloves.
• For the espresso: In an 8-ounce glass measuring cup, whisk together the boiling water, espresso powder, and liqueur, if using, until the powder is dissolved. Set aside to cool.
• Combine 1 cup syrup with the espresso/hazelnut liqueur mixture in a large martini shaker. Add the Kaluha and shake to combine. Pour over ice-filled glasses and serve.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9-inch square pan.
• In a large bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the egg, and mix in the molasses.
• In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Blend into the creamed mixture. Stir in the hot water. Pour into the prepared pan.
• Bake 1 hour in the preheated oven, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool in pan before serving.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Place 1/4 cup butter in a 12-in. cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet. Place in oven until butter is melted, 4-5 minutes; carefully swirl to coat evenly. Sprinkle with pecans and brown sugar; drizzle with molasses. Arrange apple slices in a single layer over sugar, cut side down., For gingerbread cake: in a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in egg, then molasses. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, ginger, salt and cloves; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in hot water., Pour over apples. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 35-40 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate. If desired, serve warm with applesauce.

Steps:

• To make Gingerbread Simple Syrup, mix sugar, water, molasses, gingerroot, cinnamon sticks and cloves in 1-quart saucepan. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat; set aside 1 hour to cool. Strain syrup into glass jar; discard spices. Cover jar, and refrigerate until needed. Makes about 1 1/2 cups.
• To prepare cocktail, moisten rim of chilled martini glass with orange wedge. Sprinkle brown sugar onto small plate, and dip moistened rim into the sugar to coat lightly. Fill cocktail shaker with ice. Add 1 ounce of the gingerbread simple syrup, the vodka, half-and-half and coffee liqueur; cover and shake. Strain into martini glass.

Steps:

• In the bottom of a mixing glass, muddle cucumber slices, lemon juice and simple syrup. Add gin, along with ice, and shake. Strain over fresh ice into a Collins glass, then top with soda. Garnish with the mint sprig.