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These cookies have a crisp edge but stay soft and chewy in the middle. They bring that warm holiday vibe right into your kitchen. Brown sugar, cozy spices, and molasses come together so every batch smells amazing. You'll want to bake these every year once you try them.
Why You’ll Love Baking These
Making these gingerbread cutouts is just as fun as eating them. You'll get big ginger flavor from ginger, cinnamon, and cloves with molasses for an old-school holiday taste. The dough’s super easy to handle and perfect for making stars, trees, and all kinds of shapes. Great to bake with family or give as thoughtful gifts.
You’ll Need These Things
- Icing (if you want): For pretty designs or faces
- All-purpose flour: 3 cups, gives the cookies shape
- Cinnamon, cloves & allspice: 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon allspice, 1/2 teaspoon cloves, 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- Baking soda: 1 teaspoon, so your cookies puff up
- Salt: 1/2 teaspoon, brings out flavor
- Soft butter: 1 cup, unsalted is best
- Brown sugar: 3/4 cup, packed in tight
- Molasses: 2/3 cup, go with unsulphured kind
- Egg: 1 large, wants to be at room temp
- Vanilla: 2 teaspoons, real stuff if you can
Making These Step by Step
- Bake ’em Up
- Slice your chilled dough and roll it out. Cut shapes, put them on a tray, and bake for 9 to 10 minutes at 350°F. Let them cool before decorating.
- Time to Chill
- Take the finished dough, split in two, and wrap each piece in plastic. Leave them in the fridge for a few hours, or overnight if you can wait.
- Put Together the Dough
- Cream soft butter until it’s fluffy. Mix in the brown sugar with molasses. Add egg and vanilla, then slowly add your dry items.
- Blend the Dry Mix
- In a bowl, combine flour, all the spices, salt, and baking soda. Stir it all up and save for later.
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Festive Holiday Treats
You know it’s that time of year when gingerbread cookies are baking. The smell fills the house and makes everyone want to sneak a taste straight from the cooling rack. They’re more than just a snack—they’re part of the fun and tradition that makes the season feel cozy and bright.
The Deal with Molasses
Molasses makes your gingerbread unforgettable. This thick, dark syrup isn't just for sweetness—it gives them a deep brown color and a chewy middle. Go for unsulphured or dark molasses for awesome flavor. It keeps cookies soft inside and crisp around the edges, plus they won't spread all over the pan while baking.
Getting Awesome Cookie Shapes
If you want your cookies to hold their shape, cold dough is the answer. Once you’ve mixed it up, wrap and chill for three hours or even overnight. When you roll it out, dust the countertop so it doesn’t stick. Work with one chunk of dough at a time, keep the rest cold. Too soft? Pop it in the fridge for a quick 10 minutes.
Decorating is a Blast
Everyone has fun decorating these. Wait for your cookies to cool, then go wild with the icing. You can make faces, dots, buttons, or wild patterns. Let kids take over—each cookie gets its own personality. Don’t stress if it’s messy, that’s how you know they’re homemade.
Why These Always Turn Out
You get dependable results whenever you bake these. They’re sweet, have a pop of spice, and smell just like the holidays. You can roll out the dough without a headache and your cookies stay fresh for days if you stash them in an airtight tin. Whether you bake all the time or just for fun, you can count on these.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- → What’s the best way to store these cookies?
Keep them fresh in a sealed container, and layer with parchment paper. Toss in a bread slice to keep them soft. They’ll freeze well—baked cookies last 3 months, or dough up to 2 months when tightly wrapped.
- → Why’s my dough sticky, and how do I handle it?
Chill the dough in the fridge for 4 hours or more. For rolling, lightly flour your surface and rolling pin, or try parchment sheets. Keep unused dough cold, and sprinkle on a bit of flour if it needs it.
- → Can I use this for building a gingerbread house?
These cookies are too soft for building. For sturdier walls, cut down on butter, add flour, and roll thicker. Even better, use a recipe designed just for building gingerbread houses!
- → How do I ensure my cookies bake evenly?
Always preheat your oven and line the baking sheets with parchment. Roll your dough evenly and bake one sheet at a time. Rotate trays halfway through baking and pull cookies out when edges are golden, leaving centers slightly soft.
- → How can I decorate these cookies?
Stick to powdered sugar icing for quick designs or go for royal icing for fancy, firm details. Add a pop of color with food coloring, sprinkles, or edible glitter for a festive touch!
Conclusion
Craving more spiced treats? Try whipping up molasses bars, cinnamon cakes, or festive biscotti! They all share those warm spices and molasses richness. With simple ingredients, these holiday sweets are a joy to make.