Description
Bake simple, warm Easy Gingerbread Cookie Recipe for Christmas. My easy recipe brings holiday cheer, perfect for sharing. Get baking!
Ingredients
Scale
- Cookie Base:
- 2 ¾ cups (350g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup (150g) dark brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup (120ml) unsulphured molasses
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- Spices & Leavening:
- 2 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground cloves
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- Icing & Decoration:
- 1 ½ cups (180g) powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsp milk (any kind)
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- Sprinkles or edible glitter (optional)
Instructions
- Cream Butter and Sugars: First things first, get that softened butter and dark brown sugar into your mixing bowl. Cream them together with an electric mixer until they’re light and fluffy, usually about 2-3 minutes. This is where you’re building the foundation for tender Easy Gingerbread Cookie Recipe for Christmas cookies, so don’t rush it! I always make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl a couple of times to get everything incorporated evenly. You’ll see the color lighten and the texture become wonderfully airy, almost like a cloud. It’s a satisfying start, honestly.
- Add Molasses and Egg: Next, pour in that rich molasses and crack in your room-temperature egg. Beat them until they’re fully combined. The mixture will look dark and shiny, and oh my goodness, the smell! It’s that unmistakable holiday aroma starting to waft through the kitchen. Sometimes, I get a little overzealous and splash molasses on myself, but hey, it’s all part of the Easy Gingerbread Cookie Recipe for Christmas baking adventure, right? Just make sure everything is smooth before moving on, no streaks of egg yolk!
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together your flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, and salt. Whisk, whisk, whisk! You want these dry ingredients super well combined so that every bite of your Easy Gingerbread Cookie Recipe for Christmas has that even, spicy goodness. I once just dumped them in and ended up with a patch of intensely gingery dough and another with barely any spice. Oops! Sifting them together is even better if you’re feeling fancy.
- Mix Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Seriously, just until combined! Overmixing is the enemy of tender cookies; it develops the gluten too much and can make your Easy Gingerbread Cookie Recipe for Christmas tough. The dough will be thick and a bit sticky, and that’s totally normal. Stop the mixer as soon as you see no more streaks of flour, even if it looks a little shaggy still.
- Chill the Dough: Gather the dough, flatten it into a disc, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and pop it into the fridge for at least 2 hours. Honestly, I often chill it overnight. This step is crucial for an Easy Gingerbread Cookie Recipe for Christmas that holds its shape when baked. Don’t skip it, I beg you! Trying to roll out warm gingerbread dough is a sticky, frustrating disaster – I’ve been there, trust me. The chilling allows the flavors to meld and the butter to firm up, making it much easier to handle.
- Roll, Cut, and Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper. On a lightly floured surface, roll out your chilled dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use your favorite cookie cutters – gingerbread men, stars, trees, whatever makes you happy! Place them about an inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just set. They’ll smell absolutely divine. Let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. This Easy Gingerbread Cookie Recipe for Christmas smells like pure holiday magic when it’s baking!
- Prepare Icing and Decorate: While the cookies cool, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth. Start with 2 tablespoons of milk and add more a tiny bit at a time until you reach your desired consistency – thick enough to pipe but thin enough to spread. Once the Easy Gingerbread Cookie Recipe for Christmas cookies are completely cool, get creative! Pipe on designs, spread a thin layer, and add sprinkles or edible glitter for that extra festive touch. This is my favorite part, honestly!