BEST Gingerbread Cookies

These Gingerbread Cookies are soft in the center, crisp at the edges, and perfectly spiced with ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. They hold their shape beautifully, making them ideal for decorating with icing or candies just like the cheerful cookies in the photo. This easy holiday baking recipe fills your kitchen with warm, nostalgic aroma and makes the perfect winter dessert idea for parties, gifts, or cozy weekends at home.

Time Breakdown

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Chill Time: 1 hour
Bake Time: 8 to 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 24 to 30 cookies

Ingredients

• ¾ cup (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
• ⅔ cup molasses
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Optional: royal icing, candies, or melted white chocolate for decorating

Kitchen Tools You’ll Need

This recipe doesn’t require fancy gadgets, just a few reliable kitchen basics to keep everything simple and stress free.

• Mixing bowls
• Hand mixer or stand mixer
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Rubber spatula
• Rolling pin
• Cookie cutters
• Baking sheets
• Parchment paper

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Cream the butter and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
2. Add wet ingredients: Mix in molasses, egg, and vanilla until smooth.
3. Mix dry ingredients: In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
4. Combine: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Mix until a firm dough forms.
5. Chill: Divide the dough into two discs, wrap each in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
6. Preheat and prepare: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
7. Roll and cut: On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to about ¼-inch thickness. Cut into gingerbread men or desired shapes using cookie cutters.
8. Bake: Place cookies on prepared sheets and bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are slightly firm. Let cool on the sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
9. Decorate: Once cooled, decorate with royal icing and colorful candies to match the festive look shown.

Pro Tips

• For softer cookies, bake closer to 8 minutes; for crispier ones, bake up to 10 minutes.
• Storage: Keep cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
• Make ahead: Freeze dough for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before rolling.
• Decorating shortcut: Use a simple icing made from powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla for easy details.

Nutrition Table

Conclusion

These Gingerbread Cookies are the best kind of holiday baking, rich in flavor, easy to decorate, and guaranteed to bring smiles. Their perfectly spiced dough and classic gingerbread man shape make them a timeless favorite. Bake a batch for your family, gift them to friends, or let the kids join in on decorating; they will become a cherished holiday tradition year after year.

Gingerbread Cookies

These Gingerbread Cookies are soft in the center, crisp at the edges, and perfectly spiced with ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, making them ideal for holiday decorating and gifting.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American, Baked Goods

Servings 30 cookies

Calories 120 kcal

Ingredients

  

Main Ingredients

• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
• ⅔ cup molasses
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• Optional: royal icing, candies, or melted white chocolate for decorating

Instructions

 

Preparation

• In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• Mix in molasses, egg, and vanilla until smooth.
• In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Mix until a firm dough forms.
• Divide the dough into two discs, wrap each in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Baking

• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to about ¼-inch thickness. Cut into gingerbread men or desired shapes using cookie cutters.
• Place cookies on prepared sheets and bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are slightly firm. Let cool on the sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

Decoration

• Once cooled, decorate with royal icing and colorful candies to match the festive look.

Notes

For softer cookies, bake closer to 8 minutes; for crispier ones, bake up to 10 minutes. Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. Freeze dough for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before rolling. Use a simple icing made from powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla for easy details.

Keyword easy cookies, Festive Treats, Gingerbread Cookies, Holiday Baking, winter desserts