The Best Gingerbread Cookie Recipe

a Holiday Must-Make!

Every Christmas there are a few quintessential Christmas Cookies we always make; Snickerdoodles, Spritz Cookies, Sugar Cookies and this gingerbread cookie recipe. We make them for parties and family get togethers but especially love to create cookie plates to share with neighbors and friends. Every since we were little, all the girls in our family would gather to make goodies and assemble these plates. This gingerbread cookie happens to be a favorite for this tradition because we think they are the CLASSIC Christmas cookie. Plus, it’s become tradition to decorate these cookies with the kids – and they love it! With the flavors and taste of molasses, ginger and spice – we believe these gingerbread cookies even taste like Christmas and are soft, chewy and perfect.

ingredients

PREP TIME: 4 hours 30 minutes COOK TIME: 20 minutes

Gingerbread Men

2¾ cups all-purpose flour (plus more for rolling out the cookies) Gluten-free flour can be used. 1½ teaspoons ground ginger – 2 teaspoons for a stronger flavor 1½ teaspoons cinnamon – Replace the cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves with an equal amount of Pumpkin Pie Spice. ¼ teaspoon nutmeg ¼ teaspoon ground cloves ¾ teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup unsalted butter – see How to Soften Butter Quickly ⅓ cup granulated sugar ⅓ cup brown sugar – light or dark brown sugar 1 large egg – Room temperature eggs will incorporate better than cold eggs. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ½ cup unsulphered molasses – I use “Grandma’s Molasses – unsulphered”. Do not use sulphured or blackstrap molasses.

Royal Icing

1½ cups powdered sugar – sifted 1-2 tablespoons milk – I like whole milk, but any milk will do. 2 teaspoons clear corn syrup – Use light or dark corn syrup (the coloring will be affected). Do not use high fructose corn syrup. food coloring – use liquid, gel, or powder food coloring

Confectioners Frosting

2 cups powdered sugar – sifted ½ cup unsalted butter– softened 1-2 tablespoons milk or cream food coloring – use liquid, gel, or powder food coloring. decorating candies – red hots, M&Ms, mini M&Ms, candy eyes, sprinkles, SMARTIES, and gumdrops