Festive Spiced Gingerbread (Printable version)
Crisp and spiced gingerbread ideal for holiday decorating with royal icing and sprinkles.
# List of ingredients:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 tablespoon ground ginger
03 - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
04 - ½ teaspoon ground cloves
05 - ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
06 - ½ teaspoon baking soda
07 - ½ teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
08 - ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
09 - ¾ cup dark brown sugar, packed
10 - 1 large egg
11 - ½ cup molasses
12 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ For Decorating
13 - Royal icing
14 - Assorted sprinkles, sugar pearls, or edible glitter
# Directions:
01 - Whisk together flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
02 - Beat unsalted butter and dark brown sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
03 - Add the egg, molasses, and vanilla extract to the butter mixture and beat until well combined.
04 - Gradually blend the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until a soft dough forms.
05 - Divide dough into two halves, flatten each into disks, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 45 minutes.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
07 - Roll chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of ¼ inch. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters.
08 - Place cut shapes on prepared baking sheets, spacing approximately 1 inch apart.
09 - If making ornaments, use a straw to cut a small hole near the top of each cookie for hanging.
10 - Bake cookies for 10 to 12 minutes until edges are firm. Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
11 - Once cooled, decorate with royal icing and desired embellishments.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It's perfect for creating cookies or ornaments that hold their shape beautifully, which feels like sharing a secret with a friend.
- The balance of spices and molasses gives it that authentic warmth you'll find yourself craving every winter.
02 -
- Chilling the dough is essential for clean-cut shapes that don't spread in the oven; rushing this step leads to less precise cookies.
- Extending baking time by 1–2 minutes gives extra crispness perfect for edible ornaments that last longer.
03 -
- Beat your butter and brown sugar until really fluffy; it makes a noticeable difference in texture and lightness.
- The dark brown sugar and molasses are the real stars—don't substitute with lighter sugar or the flavor will fall flat.