Gingerbread Cookies
It was always a tradition when I was growing up to make holiday cookies come this time of year. I used to love rolling out the sugar cookie and gingerbread dough with my mother, cutting the cookies into fun shapes and then decorating them. I wanted to continue that tradition with Kenya, but the thought of making cookies with tons of sugar didn’t seem like such a good idea (Kenya jumping off the walls at bed time never appeals to me), so we stuck with gingerbread. This recipe does have some sugar, but not a lot. It also contains molasses, which is full or iron, a bonus for kids. Kenya and I didn’t use any icing on these because, in my opinion, they don’t need it, but if you want to put a little piping on them, I included a simple icing recipe. This recipe makes dozens of cookies (more or less, depending on the size of the cookie cutters you use), so you’ll have plenty for friends and your family during the holidays.
Gingerbread Cutouts
3 1/2 Cups Flour
1/2 Tsp Salt
3/4 Tsp Baking Soda
2 Tsp Ground Ginger
1 Tsp Cinnamon
1/4 Tsp Nutmeg & Cloves
1/2 Cup Butter, room temperature
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar, packed (light or dark will work)
1 Large Egg
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
2/3 Cup Unsulphered Molasses (to prevent molasses from sticking, first spray the cup with a non stick veggie spray)
Decorating Ideas
Raisins
Chocolate Chips
Red Hots
Sanding Sugar
1. Sift the dry ingredients into a bowl.
2. With a standing mixer using the paddle attachment OR by hand, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy.
3. Add the egg, vanilla, and molasses, beating until combined.
4. Gradually add the flour to the butter, beating until combined.
5. Divide the dough in half and form into 2 disks. Refrigerate in plastic wrap or parchment paper for 2 hours or overnight.
6. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper or silpats.
7. On a lightly floured surface OR between 2 pieces of parchment paper, roll out one of the disks until it’s 1/4 thick all around.
8. Cut out cookies with different shapes (gingerbread men, stars, christmas tree, etc) and using a spatula transfer cookie to the baking sheet.
9. Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes.
10. Remove to a cooling rack. Decorate the cookies after they have cooled.
Icing
2 Cups Confectioners Sugar
2 Tbsp Butter
1/2 Tsp Vanilla
2-3 Tbsp Milk
1. Place ingredients in a bowl and whisk to combine.
2. Place in a ziplock bag and cut a tiny whole at one end to squeeze and draw with the icing.
We used these to make this recipe:
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My family absolutely loves your graham cracker recipe, so I decided to see if you have a gingerbread recipe… and you do! I haven’t tried it yet, since I just found it, but was curious if these cookies would hold up to making a gingerbread house, and if you had a sturdy royal icing recipe?
Last year I bought one of those pre-made kits
, and it was inedible and didn’t stay together well either. It was fun putting together, but I would like something that my boys could munch on that is tasty too.
Thanks!
I’d also be interested in whether or not this recipe can be used for a house, as I am not too keen on purchasing a storebought kit to decorate with my toddler!
Wow! These cookies are great!!!! So easy and so much fun, lots of flavour and adults and kiddies here were super happy. Also just realized that a 2 year-old doesn’t like to put smarties on the cookies, just in his mouth
Will try raisins in the next batch 
But why did my icing go gritty? Is caster sugar the same as confectionary sugar? (Am in Australia)
Confectionary sugar is powdered sugar
Can I substitute honey for molasses as that’s what I have on hand? I love your website. It’s been very helpful.
Unfortunaltly no, the molasses is what makes the cookie.
I know that you asked this a long time ago but in Australia it is called icing sugar.
Delicious!!! We made these for our holiday plates this year and they were a hit. I love the butterscotch and gingerbread together. I will definitely be making these again!
bigfoot willow…
[...]Gingerbread Cookies | Weelicious ™ – Fast, Easy & Fresh Homemade Home Made Baby Food Babyfood Recipes, Toddler Food and recipes for the entire family![...]…
SunnyDay…
[...]Gingerbread Cookies | Weelicious ™ – Fast, Easy & Fresh Homemade Home Made Baby Food Babyfood Recipes, Toddler Food and recipes for the entire family![...]…
Aprox how many cookies does one batch make? Say 3 to 3 1/2 inch tall gingermen. Thanks!
So do you add the raisins, red hots, sprinkles, etc before baking? If you don’t add icing they would have to be added before baking, right? Otherwise they won’t stick? Thanks! We’ve already cooked one batch and it’s great.