Gingerbread Cookies – a Taste of Holiday Happiness

Happy Gingerbread Cookies Day – November 21. It’s the perfect excuse to bake a batch of these festive treats.

Gingerbread cookies recipe

Gingerbread cookies are a classic holiday treat. These cookies are characterized by their rich, spiced flavor and unique texture. They are typically made with a combination of molasses, brown sugar, and a variety of warm spices.

A gingerbread cookie can bring a sweet and spicy flavor burst. Its warm spices balance with sugary sweetness at the same time. Its rich, chewy center contrasts with a crisp edge. It reminds me of memories of holiday gatherings and celebrations.

The fun part is designing gingerbread cookies. You can make the traditional gingerbread men, the cute heart shape to festive gingerbread Christmas trees or even little gingerbread houses. I made 24 Gingerbread Men and 12 Gingerbread Christmas Trees. Here’s how to make gingerbread cookies:

Simple Gingerbread Cookies

These cookies offer a delightful balance of crispy edges and slightly chewy centers. Perfect for holiday baking, gifting, or decorating with royal icing.

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Chilling time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 50 minutes mins

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American, European

Servings 36

Calories 117 kcal

Ingredients

  

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Gingerbread man recipe

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp ground ginger
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar packed
• 1 large egg
• 3/4 cup molasses
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Making icing/frosting for gingerbread cookies

• 3 cups powdered sugar confectioners’ sugar
• 2 tbsp meringue powder
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract optional
• Food coloring optional

Instructions

 

Making gingerbread cookies

• In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat well. Add molasses and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined.
  
• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until the dough comes together.
• Divide the dough into two equal portions. Wrap each portion in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
  
• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
• On a floured surface, roll out 2 portions of the dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out gingerbread men and tree shapes using a cookie cutter and place them on the prepared baking sheets.
  
• Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are slightly firm. Keep a close eye on them to prevent over-baking.
• Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Making icing/frosting

• To ensure a smooth icing, sift the powdered sugar into a large mixing bowl to remove any lumps.
  
• In a separate bowl, mix the meringue powder with warm water according to the package instructions. Usually, it's about 2 tablespoons of meringue powder per 1/4 cup of warm water.
• Add the meringue mixture to the powdered sugar. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed until the ingredients are combined. Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and continue beating for about 5-7 minutes until the icing becomes glossy and forms stiff peaks.
  
• If desired, add vanilla extract for flavor. Mix until well combined. If the icing is too thick, you can add a little more warm water, a teaspoon at a time, until you reach the desired consistency. If it’s too thin, add more powdered sugar.
• Divide the icing into smaller bowls if you want to make different colored icings. Add food coloring (I used red and green) to achieve the desired shades.
  

Decorating

• Once your icing is ready, use it to decorate your gingerbread men. You can use a piping bag or a Ziploc bag with the corner cut off for more precise decorating.
  
• Allow the icing to set before stacking or storing the gingerbread men. This may take a few hours, depending on the thickness of your icing.

Notes

If you adjust the icing thickness or add decorations (e.g., sprinkles), the nutrition values will vary slightly.

Nutrition

Calories: 117kcalCarbohydrates: 23.4gProtein: 1.4gFat: 2.5gSaturated Fat: 1.4gCholesterol: 7.2mgSodium: 62mgSugar: 15g

Keyword baking recipes, Christmas dessert, gingerbread cookie, holiday recipe, homemade cookies

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Pairing suggestion

Gingerbread cookies can be paired with a variety of dishes. Here are some excellent serving suggestions:

1. Cocktails
   • Ginger beer complements gingerbread flavors.
   • Ginger in Moscow Mule enhances cookie flavor.
   • Rum Punch’s tropical flavors pair with gingerbread spices.
   • Whiskey Sour tanginess balances cookie sweetness.
   • The bitters and sweetness of the Old Fashioned harmonize with gingerbread spices.
2. Wines
   • Zinfandel’s fruity notes complement gingerbread spiciness.
   • Riesling pairs well with cookie spice.
   • Sauternes enhances cookie richness.
   • Grenache’s spicy notes pair with gingerbread flavors.
3. Non-Alcoholic Options
   • Spiced apple cider’s warm spices echo gingerbread flavors.
   • Chai tea spices complement cookie flavors.
   • Hot chocolate pairs with sweet cookies.
   • Coffee contrasts with gingerbread sweetness.
4. Savory Pairings
   • These cookies can be topped with blue cheese and fig jam. This pairing is popular in Norway as a festive holiday snack.
   • Cheese platters’ richness is balanced with the spiced sweetness.
5. Sweet Pairings
   • Fresh fruits like peaches or berries are a great pairing.
   • Crushed gingerbread cookies make excellent ice cream toppings. They can be added to ice cream sandwiches for a festive dessert.

Variations

Here are some interesting versions of these cookies:

• Gingerbread Linzer features a dulce de leche or jam filling between two spiced gingerbread cookies. It is soft and slightly crumbly.
• Soft Gingerbread Cookies are soft, thick, and chewy.
  • Includes additional baking soda for a softer texture
  • Top with royal icing or powdered sugar
• Chocolate Version
  • Incorporate cocoa powder
  • Filled with chocolate ganache
  • Served plain with a dusting of powdered sugar
• Maple Glazed Variant is topped with a sweet maple glaze
• Gingerbread Bars
  • Include flavors of gingerbread in a bar format
  • Studded with white chocolate chips
• Gingerbread Palmier Cookies use puff pastry sprinkled with ginger-spiced sugar.
• Gingerbread Ice Cream Cookie features chunks of gingerbread cookies mixed into creamy ice cream. It’s ideal for a festive sundae.

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Gingerbread Linzer Cookies: Sweets and Spice Treats for Christmas Cranberry and Almond Mince Pies for Holiday Bliss Amaretto Pound Cake Recipe: A Taste of Southern Comfort Treat-Size Plum and Apple Pies – Tiny Treasures of Taste Cranachan – A Taste of Scotland Peanut Butter And Fluff Cookies without Flour