Delight your taste buds with the warm and comforting flavors of the season with these Soft Gingerbread Cookies.
Soft, chewy, and perfectly spiced, these cookies are a holiday classic that captures the essence of winter.
Whether you’re baking for festive gatherings or cozy evenings by the fire, these gingerbread cookies are sure to bring joy and warmth to your home.
Ingredients:
For the Gingerbread Cookie Dough:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup dark brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For Rolling and Decorating:
- Granulated sugar, for rolling
- Royal icing (optional, for decorating)
Instructions:
1. Preheat the Oven:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Sift Dry Ingredients:
In a bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cloves, and salt. Set aside.
3. Cream Butter and Sugar:
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and dark brown sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add Molasses and Egg:
Add the molasses to the butter-sugar mixture and mix until well combined.
Then, add the egg and vanilla extract, continuing to mix until smooth.
5. Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients:
Gradually add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft gingerbread cookie dough forms.
6. Chill the Dough:
Divide the dough in half, shape each portion into a disk, and wrap them in plastic wrap.
Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 1-2 hours or until firm.
7. Roll and Shape:
Preheat your oven again to 350°F (175°C).
Take one disk of dough at a time and roll it out on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness.
Cut out desired shapes using cookie cutters.
8. Roll in Sugar:
Roll each cutout cookie in granulated sugar to coat it lightly.
9. Bake:
Place the sugared cookies on the prepared baking sheets, leaving space between each.
Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are set.
The centers may still look slightly soft but will firm up as they cool.
10. Cool:
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
11. Optional: Decorate with Royal Icing:
If desired, decorate the cooled cookies with royal icing.
Let the icing set before storing.
12. Serve and Enjoy:
These Soft Gingerbread Cookies are ready to be enjoyed! Serve them at holiday gatherings or savor them with a cup of tea for a cozy winter treat.
Tips:
For a more pronounced ginger flavor, you can add a bit of freshly grated ginger to the dough.
Experiment with different cookie cutter shapes to fit the theme of your occasion.
Conclusion:
These Soft Gingerbread Cookies are a festive and flavorful addition to your holiday baking repertoire.
With their soft and chewy texture, coupled with the rich spiced aroma, these cookies embody the essence of winter.
Whether you’re decorating with royal icing or enjoying them as is, these gingerbread cookies are bound to become a seasonal favorite.
Share the warmth and joy of the holidays with every bite of these delicious treats.