The Best Classic Gingerbread Cookies

The best classic gingerbread cookies spice up the holiday season to perfection.

This recipe has been featured on Bookroo Blog!

Whether your making gingerbread men, a candy-covered house or just delicious cut-outs, this recipe is your new go-to. With just enough spice, rich molasses and sweetness it hits all the marks of that nostalgic Christmas cookie. I even make super cute, edible place cards for my holiday table!

Doesn’t the smell of baking gingerbread just make everyone feel cozy and warm. I think it’s the smell of the holiday. There are so many gingerbread recipes out there, what makes these perfect? Well I like mine slightly soft, but not too cakey! This simple recipe creates cookies that are soft with just a little crisp edge. If you roll them thicker and under bake just a little they will be much softer too. It’s pretty genius.

These really are the best classic gingerbread cookies!

For the classic gingerbread man, or lady! shapes, try my favorite cutters. It’s the cutest set of him, her, minis and more. Otherwise you can cut out any shape you want.

Make sure when you place the cookies on the baking sheets they are similar in size. If you’re baking larger cookies and mini cookies you want to keep sizes together. If you don’t, the little guys will get baked and overdone before the bigger cookies are baked to perfection.

The best classic gingerbread cookies are delicious on their own. But I have to admit I like mine with a little frosting. For a clean, simple look, pipe designs, faces and buttons on with Royal Icing (my Lemon Royal Icing also goes so well with gingerbread!). For the more indulgent (my favorite) version, spread the entire cookie with a simple Fluffy Vanilla Frosting!

5 from 2 votes

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The Best Classic Gingerbread Cookies

Work Time

1 hr 40 mins

Cook Time

10 mins

Total Time

3 hrs 40 mins

 

Perfectly spiced molasses cookies that make the house smell like Christmas. Must be the best gingerbread cookies!

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: The Best Classic Gingerbread Cookies

Yield: 15 3-inch cookies

Calories: 211 kcal

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp ground cloves
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ cup unsalted butter softened
• ½ cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• ½ cup unsulfered molasses

Instructions

1. Whisk together flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, salt and baking soda in a bowl; set aside.
2. In a mixer bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy, 3 min. Beat in egg and molasses. Add flour mixture and combine. Halve dough, wrap in plastic wrap and chill 2 hours.

3. Heat oven to 350ºF. Roll dough to ¼-inch thick on a floured surface. Cut shapes with cookie cutters and place on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until set, 7 to 9 min. Cool completely.

Recipe Notes

For a clean, simple look, pipe designs, faces and buttons on with Royal Icing (my Lemon Royal Icing also goes so well with gingerbread!). For the more indulgent (my favorite) version, spread the entire cookie with a simple Fluffy Vanilla Frosting!

Nutrition Facts

The Best Classic Gingerbread Cookies

Amount Per Serving

Calories 211 Calories from Fat 54

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 6g 9%

Saturated Fat 4g 20%

Cholesterol 27mg 9%

Sodium 131mg 5%

Potassium 208mg 6%

Total Carbohydrates 35g 12%

Sugars 15g

Protein 3g 6%

Vitamin A 4.1%

Calcium 4%

Iron 10.4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Make more wonderful holiday cookies with these and more Christmas baking recipes.

These Peanut Butter Rudolph cookies are sure to please the little ones and grown-ups alike!

Recipe by Tara Bench