Description
Festive Christmas Gingerbread Cookies bring warmth and cheer to holiday gatherings with their spicy-sweet aroma and charming shapes. Memories of family traditions and childhood delight emerge as you bite into these delightful treats that connect generations through their irresistible flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients:
- 3 cups (360 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon (6 grams) ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon (6 grams) ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon (2 grams) baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon (1.5 grams) salt
- 1/2 teaspoon (1 gram) ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon (0.5 grams) nutmeg
Wet Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup (170 grams or 1.5 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup (165 grams) packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (170 grams) molasses
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) vanilla extract
Instructions
- Blend the aromatic dry ingredients in a medium mixing vessel, ensuring uniform distribution of spices like ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg with flour, baking soda, and salt.
- Cream butter and brown sugar in a spacious bowl until light and airy, then incorporate molasses, egg, and vanilla extract, mixing until thoroughly combined.
- Gently fold dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until just integrated without overmixing. Form the dough into a cohesive mass and encase in plastic wrap.
- Chill the dough in the refrigerator for 60 minutes to enhance flavor development and improve texture.
- Heat the oven to 350°F, preparing parchment-lined baking sheets for optimal cookie performance.
- Roll the chilled dough to a precise ¼-inch thickness on a lightly floured surface, using festive cookie cutters to create desired shapes.
- Carefully transfer cut cookies to prepared baking sheets, spacing them evenly to allow proper heat circulation.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, watching for slightly set edges and a subtle golden hue, indicating perfect doneness.
- Transfer cookies to wire cooling racks, allowing them to firm and reach room temperature.
- Embellish with decorative icing, sprinkles, or royal icing as desired, transforming simple cookies into artistic treats.
Notes
- Chill the dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain crisp cookie shapes during baking.
- Dust work surface with flour to prevent sticky dough from sticking and making rolling easier.
- For gluten-free option, swap regular flour with 1:1 gluten-free baking blend, ensuring similar texture and taste.
- Reduce baking time by 1-2 minutes for softer cookies or extend for crispier edges, depending on personal preference.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 140 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 160 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg