Quick & Jolly Gingerbread Cookies Recipe for Holiday Magic

Delicate spices dance through traditional gingerbread cookies, creating a festive aroma that fills kitchens with warmth.

Bakers love mixing molasses and fragrant cinnamon into soft dough.

Crisp edges and chewy centers make these treats irresistible.

Sweet memories of childhood holidays emerge with each bite.

Intricate designs and decorative icing transform simple ingredients into edible art.

Home kitchens become magical workshops when these delightful cookies are in production.

You’ll want to savor every delectable moment of baking and enjoying these classic seasonal delights.

Why Gingerbread Cookies Are a Holiday Staple

• Capture Holiday Magic: Create delightful gingerbread cookies that bring festive cheer to your kitchen with minimal fuss.
• Bake with Confidence: Perfect for bakers of all skill levels, this recipe offers straightforward steps that guarantee delicious results every single time.
• Customize Your Creations: Transform plain cookies into stunning edible art by decorating with royal icing, sprinkles, and personal artistic touches that spark joy and creativity.
• Family Bonding Treat: Gather loved ones for a fun baking adventure that creates lasting memories while enjoying the warm, spicy aroma of ginger and cinnamon spreading through your home.

Everything You’ll Need for Gingerbread Cookies

• All-Purpose Flour: The foundational base that provides structure to the gingerbread cookies.
• Baking Soda: Helps the cookies rise and create a soft, tender texture.
• Ground Ginger, Ground Cinnamon, Ground Nutmeg, Ground Cloves: Classic spices that give gingerbread cookies their signature warm and aromatic flavor profile.
• Salt: Enhances and balances the overall taste of the cookies.

• Butter: Adds richness and helps create a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Brown Sugar: Provides deep sweetness and contributes to the cookies' soft consistency.
• Molasses: Delivers a rich, dark sweetness and classic gingerbread color.
• Egg: Binds the ingredients together and adds moisture to the dough.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds a subtle depth of flavor to complement the spices.

• Powdered Sugar, Milk, Vanilla Extract: Combine to create a smooth royal icing for decorating.
• Food Coloring: Optional ingredient to add color to the icing.
• Sprinkles: Provides additional decoration and festive touch to the gingerbread cookies.

How to Make Gingerbread Cookies That Hold Their Shape

Step 1: Blend Dry Ingredients

Grab a medium mixing bowl and toss in flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Whisk everything together until the spices are evenly distributed throughout the flour mixture.

Step 2: Whip Butter and Sugar

In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream butter and brown sugar. Beat these ingredients until they become light, fluffy, and look like a cloud-like mixture, which takes about 3 minutes.

Step 3: Mix Wet Ingredients

Pour molasses, egg, and vanilla extract into the butter-sugar mixture. Blend these ingredients until they create a smooth, well-combined liquid base.

Step 4: Create Cookie Dough

Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients. Fold and mix carefully until a soft, cohesive dough forms. Avoid overmixing to keep the texture perfect.

Step 5: Chill the Dough

Wrap the dough in plastic film and place it in the refrigerator. Let it rest for 2 hours, allowing the flavors to meld and the dough to firm up nicely.

Step 6: Prepare Baking Setup

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper, creating a perfect non-stick surface for your cookies.

Step 7: Roll and Cut Cookies

Take the chilled dough and roll it out on a lightly floured surface. Aim for a 1/4-inch thickness. Use festive cookie cutters to create fun shapes like gingerbread people or holiday designs.

Step 8: Arrange Cookies

Transfer the cut cookies onto the prepared baking sheets. Space them about 1 inch apart to ensure even baking and prevent sticking.

Step 9: Bake to Perfection

Slide the baking sheets into the oven and bake for 8-10 minutes. Look for slightly golden edges and set centers as your doneness indicator.

Step 10: Cool Cookies

Remove the cookies from the oven. Let them rest on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then carefully transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Step 11: Prepare Royal Icing

• Powdered sugar
• Milk
• Vanilla extract

Mix until the icing becomes smooth and glossy.

Step 12: Decorate Cookies

Add food coloring to the icing if you want colorful designs. Use the icing to decorate the cooled cookies. Sprinkle with additional decorations if desired.

Step 13: Store and Enjoy

Wait for the icing to set completely. Store the decorated cookies in an airtight container to maintain their freshness and delightful texture.

Tricks to Get Gingerbread Cookies Just Right

• Chill the Dough Thoroughly: Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to enhance flavor development and prevent cookies from spreading during baking.
• Roll with Precision: Use a lightly floured surface and roll dough to consistent 1/4-inch thickness for even baking and uniform cookie shapes.
• Prevent Overbaking: Watch cookies carefully and remove from oven when edges turn slightly golden to maintain a soft, tender texture.
• Decorate Creatively: Let cookies cool completely before adding royal icing to ensure smooth, clean decorations that adhere perfectly.
• Store Smartly: Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, separating layers with parchment paper to maintain freshness.

Warm and Spicy Variations on Gingerbread Cookies

• Chocolate Chip Gingerbread: Add 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips to the dough for a rich, sweet enhancement that complements the warm spices.
• Nutty Crunch Ginger Cookies: Mix 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts into the dough for added texture and a subtle nutty flavor profile.
• Lemon Zest Gingerbread: Incorporate 2 tablespoons fresh lemon zest to brighten the traditional spice blend, creating a citrusy undertone.
• Spiced Chai Gingerbread: Replace ground ginger with 2 teaspoons of chai spice mix to introduce a complex, aromatic dimension to the classic cookie.

What to Serve with Your Gingerbread Cookies

• Pair Warming Mulled Wine: Enhance gingerbread cookies with a traditional spiced red wine featuring cinnamon, cloves, and orange zest for a cozy holiday experience.
• Complement Hot Chai Latte: Create a delightful flavor harmony by serving gingerbread cookies alongside a creamy, spiced chai tea that mirrors the warm cookie spices.
• Match Vanilla Bean Ice Cream: Balance the cookie's rich, spicy profile with a smooth, cold vanilla bean ice cream for a contrasting sweet and creamy texture.
• Serve Dark Chocolate Espresso: Elevate the cookie's deep molasses flavor with a rich, intense dark chocolate espresso that highlights the warm baking spices.

Storing Gingerbread Cookies to Keep Them Snappy

• Place cooled gingerbread cookies in an airtight container lined with parchment paper, separating layers with wax paper to prevent sticking. Keep container in a cool, dry spot away from direct sunlight, where cookies will stay fresh for 5-7 days.
• Transfer cookies to a sealed container with tight-fitting lid, adding silica gel packet to absorb moisture. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks, ensuring cookies are completely cooled before storing to maintain crisp texture.
• Wrap individual cookies or entire batch in plastic wrap, then place inside freezer-safe container or ziplock bag. Label with date and contents, storing up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for 1-2 hours before serving.

Gingerbread Cookie FAQs for Perfect Batches

• Why do I need to chill the gingerbread cookie dough?

Chilling helps prevent spreading during baking, allows spices to blend, and makes the dough easier to handle and roll out without sticking.

• Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the dough up to 3 days in advance and store it wrapped in the refrigerator, which actually enhances the flavor development of the spices.

• How thin should I roll out the cookie dough?

Roll the dough to a consistent 1/4-inch thickness to ensure even baking and prevent cookies from becoming too crisp or too soft.

Gingerbread Cookies Recipe

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4.6 from 23 reviews

• Total Time: 2 hours 25 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Festive Gingerbread Cookies bring warmth and cheer to holiday celebrations, offering a delightful blend of spices and sweet memories. Christmas bakers can craft these classic treats with simple ingredients, creating edible joy that connects generations.

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Ingredients

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Dry Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tbsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp salt

Wet Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Decorating Ingredients:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2–3 tbsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Food coloring (optional)
• Sprinkles (optional)

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Instructions

1. Whisk together flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt in a medium mixing bowl until thoroughly combined.
2. Cream butter and brown sugar in a separate large bowl using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, approximately 3 minutes.
3. Add molasses, egg, and vanilla extract to the butter mixture, blending until smooth and fully incorporated.
4. Gradually fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients, mixing until a cohesive dough forms without overmixing.
5. Wrap the dough in plastic film and refrigerate for 2 hours to allow flavors to meld and dough to firm up.
6. Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
7. Roll out chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness, using cookie cutters to create desired shapes.
8. Transfer cut cookies onto prepared baking sheets, spacing them 1 inch apart.
9. Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are slightly golden and centers appear set.
10. Remove from oven and cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks.
11. Prepare royal icing by whisking powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
12. Add food coloring if desired and decorate cooled cookies with icing and sprinkles.
13. Allow icing to completely set before storing cookies in an airtight container.

Notes

• Chill the dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain sharp cookie shapes during baking.
• Use fresh, high-quality spices for maximum flavor intensity and aromatic warmth in the cookies.
• Adjust spice levels by increasing or decreasing ground ginger and cinnamon to suit personal taste preferences.
• Gluten-free alternative: Replace wheat flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend for celiac or wheat-sensitive individuals.

• Prep Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 130
• Sugar: 10 g
• Sodium: 80 mg
• Fat: 5 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 19 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 1 g
• Cholesterol: 15 mg