Soft and Chewy Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies (all-purpose, whole wheat and dairy-free options)

INGREDIENTS

1 2/3 cups

whole wheat flour, whole spelt flour or all-purpose flour

2/3 cup

Dutch-process cocoa powder

1 tsp

baking soda

1 1/2 tsp

ground cinnamon

1 1/4 tsp

ground cloves

1/2 tsp

ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp

ground ginger

1/2 tsp

salt

2/3 cup

brown sugar, raw sugar, or coconut sugar

1/4 cup

coconut oil, melted1 or olive oil or canola oil

1/3 cup

molasses (blackstrap is fine)

large egg, room temperature

3/4 cup

chopped crystallized ginger

3/4 cup

semi-sweet chocolate chips (use dairy-free chocolate chips), if necessary

1 cup

(50 - 100 grams) granulated or raw sugar for rolling, optional