Description
Festive Gingerbread Cookies bring warmth and nostalgia to holiday celebrations with their rich, spicy flavor. Traditional German baking techniques combine molasses, ginger, and cinnamon for a delightful seasonal treat you’ll cherish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups (384 g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup (165 g) brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup (170 ml) molasses
- 1 large egg
- 1 tbsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground cloves
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Royal icing
- Sprinkles or candy decorations
Instructions
- Blend Dry Ingredients: Whisk flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, leavening agent, and salt in a medium mixing bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Cream Butter Mixture: Vigorously beat softened butter with brown sugar until light and fluffy, approximately two minutes of consistent mixing.
- Incorporate Wet Components: Mix molasses, egg, and vanilla extract into the butter blend, stirring until smooth and fully integrated.
- Form Dough: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture, creating a soft, pliable dough without overmixing. Divide dough into two circular discs, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for one hour to enhance flavor and texture.
- Prepare Baking Surface: Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Shape Cookies: Roll chilled dough to 14-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Use cookie cutters to create festive shapes, carefully transferring cut-outs to prepared baking sheet with minimal spacing.
- Bake and Cool: Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are set but centers remain slightly soft. Rest cookies on baking sheet for five minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack.
- Decorate: Once completely cooled, adorn with royal icing and sprinkles to create a visually stunning seasonal treat.
Notes
- Chill Dough Thoroughly: Refrigerate the dough for at least an hour to prevent spreading and enhance the complex spice flavors, ensuring cookies maintain their crisp shape during baking.
- Measure Spices Precisely: Use fresh, high-quality ground spices to guarantee an authentic, robust gingerbread flavor that truly captures the warm, traditional taste profile.
- Roll Dough Consistently: Maintain an even 1/4-inch thickness while rolling to ensure uniform baking and prevent some cookies from becoming too crisp or remaining undercooked.
- Control Baking Time Carefully: Watch cookies closely during the 8-10 minute window, as ovens vary; remove when edges are set but centers remain slightly soft for a perfect chewy-crisp texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 25
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 70 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg