Description
Classic gingerbread cookies made with warm spices and molasses, perfect for holiday baking. These soft and flavorful cookies are easy to prepare and can be decorated with icing and festive toppings for a delightful treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup unsulfured molasses
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- (optional) zest of one small orange
Icing Ingredients
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons milk
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optional toppings: simple icing, red hots, sprinkles, etc.
Instructions
- Prepare Butter: Ensure the unsalted butter is softened to room temperature to make mixing easier and achieve a smooth dough.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, baking soda, ground cloves, ground nutmeg, and salt to evenly distribute the spices and leavening ingredients.
- Cream Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, cream the softened butter and packed brown sugar together until fluffy. Then, add the egg, molasses, and vanilla extract and mix well until fully incorporated.
- Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing until a cohesive dough forms.
- Chill Dough: Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour to firm up, which makes it easier to roll and cut.
- Preheat Oven and Roll Dough: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). On a floured surface, roll the chilled dough to about 1/4 inch thickness and use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes.
- Bake Cookies: Place the cut-out cookies on baking sheets and bake for approximately 10 minutes, or until the edges become firm but not browned. Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack before decorating with icing and toppings.
Notes
- For softer cookies, avoid overbaking; remove from oven as soon as edges are firm.
- Chilling the dough improves flavor and prevents cookies from spreading while baking.
- Optional orange zest adds a bright citrus note that complements the spices.
- Decorate cooled cookies with the powdered sugar icing and your choice of festive toppings for a fun presentation.
- Store cooled cookies in an airtight container to keep them fresh for up to a week.
