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A collection of festive gingerbread cookies decorated with white icing.

Perfect Gingerbread Cookies

These gingerbread cookies are perfectly spiced, with a delightful chewiness and crisp edges. Ideal for holiday baking, they hold their shape beautifully after baking, making them perfect for decorating.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 40 minutes
Servings 24 cookies
Calories 150 kcal

Equipment

  • Large bowl
  • Electric mixer
  • Medium bowl
  • Plastic wrap
  • Baking sheets
  • Parchment paper
  • Rolling pin
  • Cookie cutters
  • Wire rack

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients

  • 1 cup Unsalted Butter room temperature
  • 1 cup Brown Sugar packed
  • 1/2 cup Molasses not blackstrap
  • 1 Large Egg room temperature
  • 3 cups All-Purpose Flour
  • 2 teaspoons Ground Ginger
  • 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon Ground Cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt

Instructions
 

Mixing the Dough

  • In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, which takes about 2-3 minutes.
  • Beat in the molasses and egg until well combined, making sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt.
  • Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients on low speed, mixing just until combined to avoid tough cookies. The dough will be soft and a bit sticky.

Chilling and Baking

  • Divide the dough in half, form each into a disk, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight to ensure easy handling and prevent spreading.
  • When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of chilled dough to about 1/4-inch thickness, then cut out shapes with cookie cutters and transfer them to the prepared baking sheets, leaving 1 inch between them.
  • Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just set and lightly browned; baking time may vary based on cookie size.
  • Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Finishing Touches

  • Once completely cool, decorate with royal icing, glaze, or sprinkles if desired.

Notes

For best results, do not skip the chilling step, as it prevents the cookies from spreading and makes them easier to handle. These cookies are a festive treat, perfect for holiday gatherings or gift-giving. Adjust spice levels to your preference, adding a pinch more ginger for a spicier kick. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.