Gingerbread cookies are a quintessential part of the holiday season. Their warm, spicy flavor and festive shape bring comfort and joy to kitchens everywhere. Whether you're baking for a holiday gathering, decorating cookies with the kids, or simply indulging in a sweet treat, this gingerbread cookie recipe is sure to become a beloved tradition.
Why You'll Love This Gingerbread Cookie Recipe
- Classic flavor: A perfect balance of molasses, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves.
- Soft & chewy texture: These cookies are tender on the inside with just the right amount of snap on the edges.
- Easy to decorate: The dough holds its shape well when baked, making it ideal for creating fun and festive shapes, from gingerbread men to intricate snowflakes.
- Great for gifting: Gingerbread cookies make lovely homemade gifts—especially when decorated with royal icing and colorful sprinkles!
Ingredients You'll Need:
3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground cloves
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp salt
¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1 large egg
1 cup unsulfured molasses
1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions:
1. Prep Your Oven and Baking Sheets:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. This will make cleanup easier and help prevent the cookies from sticking.
2. Combine the Dry Ingredients:
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt. Set this aside for now—these spices are what give the cookies their signature warm, comforting flavor.
3. Cream the Butter and Sugar:
In a separate large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened butter and brown sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. This step is key to achieving a soft and chewy cookie.
4. Add the Wet Ingredients:
Beat in the egg, molasses, and vanilla extract until everything is well incorporated. The molasses gives the cookies their deep, rich flavor and dark color, so don’t skip this ingredient!
5. Gradually Add the Dry Ingredients:
Slowly add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mixing until combined. You may need to use a spatula to scrape the sides of the bowl. The dough will be thick and slightly sticky, which is perfect for rolling.
6. Chill the Dough:
To make the dough easier to work with, wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Chilling helps the dough firm up, making it much easier to roll out and cut into shapes without sticking.
7. Roll Out the Dough:
Once chilled, place the dough on a lightly floured surface. Roll it out to about ¼-inch thickness. You can also place the dough between two sheets of parchment paper to prevent it from sticking to the rolling pin.
8. Cut Out Shapes:
Use cookie cutters to cut out your gingerbread shapes. Traditional gingerbread men are always fun, but feel free to get creative with stars, trees, or snowflakes. Place the cookies about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
9. Bake the Cookies:
Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown. Keep an eye on them, as baking times can vary depending on the size of your cookie shapes. For crispier edges, leave them in a little longer; for softer cookies, take them out a bit sooner.
10. Cool and Decorate:
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer them to wire racks to cool completely before decorating.
How to Decorate Your Gingerbread Cookies
Decorating gingerbread cookies is half the fun! You can use royal icing, which hardens nicely and creates beautiful, intricate designs, or simple powdered sugar glaze for a more casual look. Here’s a quick recipe for royal icing:
Royal Icing Recipe:
1 egg white (or 2 tbsp powdered egg whites)
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
½ tsp lemon juice (optional)
Instructions:
Beat the egg whites (or powdered egg whites) until stiff peaks form.
Gradually add the powdered sugar and lemon juice (if using), continuing to beat until the icing is smooth and glossy.
Gradually add the powdered sugar and lemon juice (if using), continuing to beat until the icing is smooth and glossy.
Use a piping bag or a plastic sandwich bag with the tip cut off to pipe the icing onto your cookies. You can also use it to create "glue" for attaching candy decorations, like sprinkles, mini M&Ms, or candy canes.
Storage Tips:
Room temperature: Store your gingerbread cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. They’ll stay soft and delicious!
Freezing: Gingerbread cookies freeze beautifully. After decorating, place the cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for 1 hour. Once frozen, transfer the cookies to a zip-top freezer bag and store for up to 3 months.
Gingerbread Cookie Variations:
While the classic gingerbread flavor is always a winner, you can also mix it up with a few fun variations:Add-ins: For a twist, stir in some mini chocolate chips, chopped crystallized ginger, or finely chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts.
Icing variations: You can use different colors of icing to create a festive scene or write out holiday messages on your cookies.
Final Thoughts:
Baking gingerbread cookies is a wonderful holiday tradition that’s perfect for family bonding, gifting, or just enjoying a cozy moment with a warm mug of hot cocoa. This recipe offers all the delicious flavor and texture you’d want from a classic gingerbread cookie, and with a little creativity in the decorating, you can make each batch truly special. Happy baking and enjoy the festive season with these irresistible gingerbread treats!
Do you have a favorite gingerbread decorating tip or variation? Share your ideas in the comments below!
Do you have a favorite gingerbread decorating tip or variation? Share your ideas in the comments below!
