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    Home » Recipes » Cookies Bars and Squares

    Gingerbread Cookies

    December 7, 2016 by Laureen King

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    A great gingerbread cookie recipe! This recipe leaves a crisp edge cookie with a soft inside. These can be cutout with your favorite cookie cutter. via @artandthekitch

    One of my best ever recipes for Gingerbread Cookies. Just the right amount of spice and they bake into perfect shapes.

    Stack of gingerbread men cookies on cooling rack with copper cookie cutter.

    Gingerbread Cookies are always a must for Holiday baking. The smell of these cookies baking is sure to put everyone in the Christmas spirit. I've tested many recipes over the years and this is, by far, my favourite. The optional orange zest adds a great depth of flavour to the cookies, but if you like a more traditional flavour simply omit the orange zest.

    Plate of decorated gingerbread cookie men.

    I use fancy molasses in my recipe, for a bolder flavour try cooking molasses. Rolled out gingerbread dough with copper cookie cutter cutting out shapes.

    This Gingerbread Cookie recipe cuts perfect shapes and bakes maintaining great edges. The key is to place cutout cookies in freezer for 5-10 minutes before baking. This prevents them from spreading as they bake.Cut out cookie dough shaped gingerbread men on white parchment line baking sheet.

    Stack of gingerbread men cookies on cooling rack with copper cookie cutter.

    Gingerbread Cookies

    Laureen King
    One of my favourite recipes for Gingerbread Cookies. Just the right amount of spice and they bake into perfect shapes.
    3.96 from 69 votes
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    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course cookies
    Cuisine American
    Servings 24
    Calories 159 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
    • 2 teaspoon ground ginger
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
    • ¼ teaspoon table salt
    • 4 oz unsalted butter ½ cup, softened
    • ¾ cup sugar
    • 1 large egg
    • ¾ cup molasses fancy molasses
    • 2 teaspoon orange zest grated optional

    Instructions
     

    • In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt.
    • Using a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
    • Add the egg, mixing until combined, then add molasses and orange zest. Beat on medium speed until smooth, stopping to scrape the bowl as necessary.
    • On low speed, slowly add in the dry ingredients, mixing just until the flour is incorporated.
    • Place dough onto a lightly floured parchment paper and flatten to a 1-inch thickness. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 3 hours or overnight.
    • Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment.
    • Roll out dough on a floured surface, about ¼” (6mm) thickness.
    • Cut gingerbread into desired shapes and place on cookie sheets.
    • Place cutout cookies in freezer for 5-10 minutes.
    • Bake 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool.
    • Decorate as desired. Store in airtight container. Freeze up to 3 months.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 159kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 2gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 85mgPotassium: 179mgFiber: 1gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 129IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 28mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword gingerbread cookies, gingerbread
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Baked gingerbread men on brown parchment lined baking sheet.

    One of my favourite things to do during the Holiday Season is decorating cookies with family and friends. Kids love decorating Christmas cookies. It doesn't matter how they are decorated, they still taste great! I usually decorate my cookies with Royal Icing. Check out my easy to follow instructions for decorating cookies with Royal Icing here.

    Stack of gingerbread men cookies on black cooling rack.

    For more great cutout cookie recipes try my Candy Cane Sugar Cookies and Best Ever Sugar Cookies recipes!

    Pink sugar cookie dough rolled out and cut into holiday shapes.

    Cookie dough cut out with Christmas Cookie shapes on white parchment lined baking sheet.

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    Plate filled with undecorated gingerbread men and copper gingerbread man cookie cutter.

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    A great gingerbread cookie recipe! This recipe leaves a crisp edge cookie with a soft inside. These can be cutout with your favorite cookie cutter. via @artandthekitch

    More Cookies Bars and Squares

    • Banana Spice Cookies
    • Butterscotch Rice Krispie Squares
    • Cookies and Cream Fudge
    • Candy Cane Fudge

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Vanessa

      December 21, 2017 at 7:15 am

      5 stars
      Ive never made ginger bread cookies before. I love this recipe! I made it yesterday and they came out so good! They were soft and fluffy and didnt lose shape! Thank you for making it easy to understand. I was always hesitant to try making ginger bread cookies but not anymore!

      Reply
      • Laureen King

        December 21, 2017 at 5:09 pm

        I've tested many gingerbread recipes over the years and finally came up with this one that I always use. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Merry Christmas

        Reply
    2. Joanne Peck

      December 19, 2018 at 10:26 am

      What do you mean by fancy molasses? Are you talking about Sorghum molasses, Brer Bear black molasses, or dark syrup that usually is in pecan pie?

      Reply
      • Laureen King

        December 19, 2018 at 11:07 am

        Hi Joanne, in Canada we have several type of molasses. Any type of molasses will work. Fancy molasses is just a lighter molasses and tends to make cookies a bit softer.

        Reply
        • Joanne Peck

          December 19, 2018 at 2:34 pm

          Thank you! We in Alabama have sorghum molasses, which when done right, is really fancy! I’m looking forward to making these for my grandson!

          Reply
    3. Laura Martinez

      November 28, 2019 at 2:03 pm

      Can I freeze the dough for a week?

      Reply
      • Laureen King

        November 29, 2019 at 7:11 am

        yes, I would wrap tightly with plastic wrap and store in ziplock bag to make sure dough doesn't dry out.

        Reply
    4. Elisabeth Pinsonneault

      December 20, 2019 at 1:58 am

      ok, these are amazing. I just made them. Before the chilling stage, my dough was not really a dough: super crumbly. Maybe I added too much flour, I don't know. But I added a bit of water until it looked more like a dough, and let chill. I was nervous that would mess up the consistency. But the cookies came out perfect! Perfect consistency, divine flavor. Definitely my go-to gingerbread from here on out.

      Reply
      • Laureen King

        December 21, 2019 at 8:14 am

        Thanks Elisabeth, nothing beats gingerbread at Christmas time.

        Reply
    5. Ella

      December 17, 2020 at 3:43 pm

      How many gingerbread men does it make?

      Reply
      • Laureen King

        December 18, 2020 at 6:41 pm

        Ella that really depends on the size of your cookie cutter. I usually get about 30.

        Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. Fancy Molasses Coconut Cookies | Art and the Kitchen says:
      March 13, 2017 at 10:21 pm

      […] Check out another great spicy cookie recipe of mine Ginger Cookies […]

      Reply
    2. How to make Stained Glass Cookies | Art and the Kitchen says:
      November 25, 2017 at 10:28 am

      […] used  some favourite Gingerbread Cookie Dough for these cookies, but any sugar cookie dough will work. I have a few great sugar cookie recipe […]

      Reply
    3. Mom's Whipped Shortbread | Art and the Kitchen says:
      February 2, 2021 at 3:01 pm

      […] Gingerbread Cookies – My go-to recipe for sensation cutout gingerbread cookies. […]

      Reply
    4. Coconut Sugar Cookies | Art and the Kitchen says:
      April 16, 2021 at 7:58 am

      […] Ginger Cookies […]

      Reply
    5. Christmas Art and the Kitchen - Art and the Kitchen says:
      November 8, 2022 at 10:15 am

      […] Gingerbread Cookies […]

      Reply

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