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Gingerbread Cookies

A close-up of several gingerbread man cookies decorated with simple white royal icing smiles and buttons.
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Classic spiced gingerbread cookies, perfect for cutting into festive shapes and decorating with icing.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups (360 g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 3/4 cup (170 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup (165 g) packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) unsulphured molasses
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt. Set this aside.
  2. In a large bowl using an electric mixer, beat the softened butter and brown sugar on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add the molasses, egg, and vanilla, and mix until just combined.
  3. Reduce the mixer speed to low and gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix until a soft dough forms. Do not overmix.
  4. Form the dough into a flat disk, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to overnight. This chilling step is essential.
  5. When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly flour a work surface.
  6. Roll the chilled dough out to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out your desired shapes.
  7. Place the shapes about 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets.
  8. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are firm and just beginning to darken. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
  9. Once cooled, decorate the cookies with your favorite icing. The dough contains raw egg, so it should not be eaten before baking.

Notes

  • Chilling the dough is crucial. It helps the spices meld and prevents the cookies from spreading too much while baking, ensuring they hold their shape.
  • Be careful not to overwork the dough when mixing or re-rolling scraps. This can make the cookies tough.
  • Let the cookies cool completely before decorating. If they are even slightly warm, the icing will melt and slide off.
  • The dough contains raw egg. Avoid consuming unbaked dough. Wash hands and surfaces after handling.

Keywords: gingerbread cookies, gingerbread, holiday cookies, Christmas, spiced cookies

Find it online: https://recipesbysofia.com/gingerbread-cookies/