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Gingerbread Cookies Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 87 reviews

Classic gingerbread cookies with warm spices and rich molasses, perfect for festive decorating with royal icing. These cookies are soft yet sturdy enough to hold intricate designs, making them an ideal holiday treat.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup molasses

For Decorating

  • Royal icing

Instructions

  1. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and salt until evenly combined. This ensures the spices are well distributed in the dough.
  2. Cream Butter and Sugar: In a separate bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and packed brown sugar together using an electric mixer until the mixture becomes fluffy and light in color. This step creates a smooth texture for the dough.
  3. Add Egg and Molasses: Beat in the large egg and molasses to the butter and sugar mixture until fully incorporated, resulting in a rich and aromatic wet mixture.
  4. Combine Dry and Wet Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet mixture, stirring continuously until a cohesive dough forms. Be careful not to overmix to keep the cookies tender.
  5. Chill the Dough: Divide the dough into two equal portions, wrap each in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Chilling firms the dough for easier rolling and enhances flavor development.
  6. Preheat Oven and Prepare Dough: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion of the chilled dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut into desired shapes.
  7. Bake the Cookies: Place cut-out cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving space between each. Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are just beginning to brown.
  8. Cool and Decorate: Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack before decorating with royal icing as desired.

Notes

  • For best results, ensure the butter is softened but not melted before mixing.
  • Chilling the dough overnight can improve the flavor and make handling easier.
  • Use parchment paper or silicone mats to prevent cookies from sticking during baking.
  • Royal icing should be thick enough to pipe but not too runny to maintain detailed decorations.
  • Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

Keywords: gingerbread cookies, holiday cookies, molasses cookies, spiced cookies, Christmas baking, royal icing cookies

Find it online: https://kitchenwithkai.com/gingerbread-cookies-recipe/