Gingerbread Cookies
The kids and I decided to make some Christmas treats this year and my daughter suggested gingerbread cookies that they could decorate. I found a terrific recipe on Simply Recipes that worked great and it was the perfect way to spend the afternoon… listening to Christmas music, smelling gingerbread cookies baking, spending time with my children, and seeing them having so much fun. These gingerbread cookies turned out soft and chewy and so flavorful. The kids used up all of the sprinkles and frosting we had in the baking cabinet and decorated their hearts out for over an hour. A great time was had by all!
How to Make Gingerbread Cookies
Combine the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and salt together in a bowl and mix until well combined.
Using a mixer, beat the butter and sugar together until fluffy and creamy. Mix in egg and molasses. Gradually add the flour mixture; you may need to work it with your hands to incorporate the flour mixture. Divide dough in half; wrap each half in plastic wrap. Chill for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Roll out the dough on lightly floured parchment paper. If after refrigerating the dough feels too soft to roll out, work in a little more flour.
Using a rolling pin, roll dough 1/8 inch thick. Refrigerate again for 5-10 minutes to make it easier to cut out the cookies. Use a cookie cutter to cut into desired shapes. Form the leftover dough into a dish and place it in the freezer for a few minutes to get chilled before re-rolling and cutting out shapes; repeat.
Carefully transfer the cutout cookies to an ungreased baking sheet.
Bake until crisp but not darkened, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven. Let sit a few minutes before transferring the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Decorate as desired.
Eat them plain or dipped in milk. Enjoy!!
Equipment
- Cookie Cutters
Ingredients
- 3 ¼ cups flour
- ¾ tsp baking soda
- ¾ cup unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup brown sugar packed
- 1 tbsp ginger
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ½ tsp clove
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup molasses
- Miscellaneous decorations frosting, sprinkles, etc.
Instructions
- Combine the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and salt together in a bowl and mix until well combined.
- Using a hand mixer, beat the butter and sugar together until fluffy and creamy.
- Mix in egg and molasses.
- Gradually add the flour mixture; you may need to work it with your hands to incorporate the flour mixture.
- Divide dough in half; wrap each half in plastic wrap. Chill for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Roll out the dough on lightly floured parchment paper. If after refrigerating the dough feels too soft to roll out, work in a little more flour.
- Using a rolling pin, roll dough 1/8 inch thick. Refrigerate again for 5-10 minutes to make it easier to cut out the cookies.
- Use a cookie cutter to cut into desired shapes. Form the leftover dough into a dish and place it into the freezer for a few minutes to get chilled before re-rolling and cutting out shapes; repeat.
- Transfer to ungreased baking sheets. Bake until crisp but not darkened, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Remove from oven. Let sit a few minutes before transferring the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Decorate as desired. Enjoy!
I love gingerbread cookies! And you have decorated them so beautifully.
I don’t think you could have gotten a better picture of your son! What a great personality shot. I love it. They did a great job and the cookies look perfect. I love that they held their shape so well. Have a wonderful Christmas, Pam!
Such serious helpers you have (they are SO cute). Merry Christmas!!!!!
Wow! Gingerbreads are my favourite cutters!:D
too cute how he pounds the cookie cutter and she presses 🙂 the cookies look yummy!
You have 2 very cute kitchen helpers, Pam. Gingerbread is one of our favorite cookies and the decorating is so much fun. Merry Christmas!
That last picture is so awesome!! It must be so much fun cooking with them.
Awww, too cute! I love that last photo – it’s priceless!
How cute are your children? The are adorable! The cookies are really cute, too, and they sounds delicious!
Ooops…I meant “they” are adorable, not “the”!
Pam, Today I must write you in spanish….
¡¡ Desde mi tierra malagueña, desde la misma orilla de la mar, deseo que la bruma, el salitre de nuestras costas te haga llegar todo lo mejor para ti y tu familia!!! Felicidades y un fuerte abrazo
The cookies looks delicious….your children like we said in Spain: Guapos, preciosos….
Hahaha! I love it! Those happy faces knoshing cookies is my favorite picture! Merry Christmas to you all, Pam!
Your little ones are getting so big! I love your tree in the windowed corner; I hope you get some snow for a picture-perfect background!
I love gingerbread. cookies and these are amazing Pam; so cute:)
Merry Christmas dear Pam!:)
Cookie baking and decorating is such a fun family activity!!
Oh my gosh Pam, your kids have sure grown!!! What fun it looks like they had!!!
Merry Christmas!!!!
xo Kris
I can almost smell these cookies baking. They look wonderful. I baked with my kids when they were little and we always had a great time together too.
They are for sure having some fun baking cookies!
You can’t go wrong with gingerbread cookies – and they’re always so fun to decorate!
Pam,
Your timing could not have been better! I have the dough in the refrig right now until later when I am ready to bake. I was looking for a recipe w/o shortening and then you came along. Thanks.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Let’s not forget to say an extra prayer for the families in Newtown.
brer rabbit molasses–how fun! 🙂
decorating cookies is definitely the best fun-with-kids idea in my wheelhouse. 🙂
There’s just something special about homemade cookies, especially chocolate chip cookies, so far as I’m concerned. It’s a great family activity, something even children can help with, and everyone loves eating the results.*
<Until next time ^:.-"http://www.caramoan.co
My favorite part of Christmas is making Ginger Bread cookies for the kids and “Santa” =)
Thank you Pam for sharing this recipe. It was so delicious and fun to make.
Lynn,
I’m so glad you had fun making them! Thanks for letting me know.
-Pam