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Plate of freshly baked gingerbread cookies decorated with icing

BEST Gingerbread Cookies

These gingerbread cookies are the best, perfect for holiday baking and decorating. They are soft, chewy, and spiced just right, making them a festive treat for any occasion.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 24 cookies
Calories 150 kcal

Equipment

  • medium bowl
  • large bowl
  • whisk
  • hand mixer or stand mixer
  • plastic wrap
  • rolling pin
  • cookie cutters
  • baking sheets
  • parchment paper
  • wire rack

Ingredients
  

Main Dough

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup molasses
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Royal Icing (Optional)

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Whisk together flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.
  • In a large bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
  • Beat in the egg, then molasses and vanilla extract until well combined.
  • Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined and a soft dough forms.
  • Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disc, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 30 minutes (or up to 2 days).

Baking

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of dough to about 1/4 inch thickness.
  • Cut out shapes with cookie cutters and carefully transfer them to the prepared baking sheets.
  • Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until edges are firm and lightly golden.
  • Let cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Decorating (Optional)

  • To make royal icing, whisk together powdered sugar, egg white, and lemon juice until smooth.
  • Decorate cooled cookies as desired with the royal icing.

Notes

For best results, chill the dough thoroughly. If the dough becomes too warm while rolling, chill it again. Get creative with cookie cutter shapes and icing designs!