Description
This Easy Gingerbread Cookie Recipe delivers soft chewy cookies perfect for festive cookie decorating. Enjoy classic gingerbread men with a holiday gingerbread recipe that’s melt-in-your-mouth buttery and packed with warm spices.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1 cup dark brown sugar packed
- 1 cup molasses I like Grandma’s brand or don’t use blackstrap
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups all purpose flour spooned and leveled
- 1 & 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 cup meringue powder or 3 egg whites see notes
- 4 cups powdered sugar about 1 pound
- 6 tablespoons warm water omit if using egg whites gel food coloring optional
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 6–7 tablespoons milk or more as necessary
- 1 tablespoon corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 pinch kosher salt
- 1 batch Buttercream Frosting
- gel food coloring optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Beat 1 cup softened butter until smooth and creamy.
- Add 1 cup dark brown sugar and beat until light and fluffy.
- Add 1 cup molasses and 1 tablespoon vanilla extract and beat until combined.
- In a separate bowl, stir together 4 cups flour, 1 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 tablespoon ground ginger, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, 3/4 teaspoon ground cloves, and 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice.
- Gradually mix dry ingredients into the wet mixture on low speed until dough forms.
- Divide dough into 3 portions, wrap in plastic, and chill for 2 hours until firm.
- Roll out dough to 3/8 inch thickness on floured surface.
- Cut out gingerbread men shapes and place on prepared baking sheets with space between.
- Optionally freeze cookie shapes on trays for 5 minutes before baking to help shape.
- Bake cookies at 350 degrees F for 6-12 minutes depending on size until centers are no longer shiny.
- Let cookies rest on baking sheet 5 minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Decorate cookies with Royal Icing, Glaze Icing, or Buttercream Frosting as desired.
Notes
- For crisp tops, broil 2–3 minutes at the end
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 306kcal
- Sugar: 39g
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.4g + 2g
- Trans Fat: 0.3g
- Carbohydrates: 56g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 20mg