Gingerbread Cookies
Deliciously spiced gingerbread cookies that are easy to make and perfect for holiday decorating.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup molasses
- 1 large egg
- Royal icing or colored icing for decorating (optional)
- Sprinkles or edible glitter for a festive touch (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, mix the flour, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt. Set aside for later use.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy. This should take about 3-5 minutes.
- Add wet ingredients: Add the molasses and egg to the butter mixture. Beat until well combined and smooth.
- Combine mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until the dough just comes together. Do not overmix; stop as soon as everything is incorporated.
- Chill the dough: Divide the dough in half, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 60 minutes, or overnight for best results.
- Preheat oven: When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll and cut: On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion of the chilled dough to about ¼ inch thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out festive shapes and place them on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, until the edges are set but the centers are still soft. They will firm up as they cool.
- Cool completely: Once baked, let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Chill the dough thoroughly before rolling it out, and do not overbake the cookies for the best results.