Recipes and Cooking Gingery Pear-Pecan Cookies 4.8 (4) Add your rating & review Try this new cookie recipe featuring dried pears and favorite baking spices -- think ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. By BHG Test Kitchen BHG Test Kitchen The Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen has been in continuous operation for nearly 100 years, developing and testing practical, reliable recipes that readers can enjoy at home. The Test Kitchen team includes culinary specialists, food stylists, registered and licensed nutritionists, and other experts with Bachelor of Science degrees in food science, food and nutrition, or culinary arts. Together, the team tests more than 2,500 recipes, produces more than 2,500 food images, and creates more than 1,000 food videos each year in the state-of-the-art test kitchen. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on June 14, 2011 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Prep Time: 40 mins Bake Time: 8 mins Total Time: 48 mins Yield: 60 cookies Ingredients 3 ½ cup all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon finely chopped crystallized ginger 2 teaspoon ground ginger 1 ½ teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon ground cloves ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg ½ cup shortening ½ cup butter, softened ¾ cup granulated sugar ¾ cup packed brown sugar 2 eggs ⅓ cup molasses ½ cup chopped toasted pecans ½ cup snipped dried pears ½ cup coarse or granulated sugar Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl stir together flour, crystallized ginger, ground ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, cloves, and nutmeg; set aside. In a large mixing bowl beat shortening and butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add the 3/4 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in eggs and molasses until combined. Beat in as much of the flour mixture as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour mixture with a wooden spoon. Stir in pecans and dried pears. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll balls in the 1/2 cup coarse sugar. Place balls 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until tops are puffed and edges are set (do not overbake). Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute. Transfer to a wire rack; cool. Tips Place cookies in layers separated by waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Ginger: Ginger is grown for its knobby root with a tan skin and an ivory flesh, which possesses a peppery, slightly sweet flavor and a nippy aroma. Ginger comes in three forms: fresh, ground, and crystallized. Slices or pieces of ginger cooked in sugar syrup, then coated in sugar create crystallized ginger. Rate it Print