Welcome to the ultimate gingerbread cookie recipe, your new holiday tradition. Imagine the incredible aroma of ginger, cinnamon, and molasses filling your home—a scent that instantly brings Christmas cheer. This recipe is designed to be foolproof, yielding perfectly soft, chewy cookies with crisp edges that are ideal for decorating. We’ve tested every step to ensure your cookies don’t spread, making them perfect for intricate shapes like gingerbread men and festive snowflakes. Get ready to create beautiful and delicious memories.
Why This is the Best Gingerbread Cookie Recipe
What makes this the definitive gingerbread cookie recipe? It’s all about the perfect balance of texture, flavor, and reliability. These cookies are soft and chewy on the inside but sturdy enough to handle detailed icing. The spice blend is warm and robust without being overpowering, and most importantly, the dough is formulated to hold its shape perfectly. Say goodbye to puffy, unrecognizable holiday shapes and hello to sharp, clean-cut cookies every single time.
The Key Ingredients for Perfect Gingerbread
The magic of this recipe lies in a few key ingredients. Using them correctly will guarantee fantastic results.
Choosing Your Molasses: A Quick Guide
Molasses is the heart of any gingerbread recipe, providing its signature color and deep, rich flavor. For this recipe, we recommend using an unsulphured, dark molasses. This variety offers a strong, traditional flavor without the slight bitterness that can come from blackstrap molasses. Light molasses can be used, but the flavor will be milder and the color lighter.
The Perfect Spice Blend
A balanced mix of spices is crucial. While ginger is the star, cinnamon, cloves, and a hint of nutmeg create a wonderfully complex and aromatic profile. Using fresh, high-quality ground spices will make a significant difference in the final taste of your cookies.
How to Make This Gingerbread Cookie Recipe Step-by-Step
Follow these simple steps for flawless gingerbread cookies. This process is straightforward and perfect for bakers of all skill levels.
Step 1: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, ground ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. Whisking ensures the spices and leavening are evenly distributed, which is key for a uniform bake.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar
In a separate bowl using a stand mixer or a hand mixer, beat the softened unsalted butter and brown sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step incorporates air into the dough, which contributes to a tender texture.
Step 3: Mix in Wet Ingredients
Beat in the egg and molasses until they are fully combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure everything is incorporated evenly. The mixture should be smooth and dark.
Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry
Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can develop the gluten and result in tough cookies. The dough will be soft and slightly sticky at this point.
Step 5: Divide and Chill The Dough (Crucial!)
Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a 1-inch thick disk, and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Chilling the dough is the most important step for preventing spread. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or preferably overnight.
Step 6: Roll and Cut
Once chilled, let the dough sit at room temperature for about 5-10 minutes to become slightly more pliable. Lightly flour your work surface and rolling pin. Roll the dough out to a 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out your desired shapes using cookie cutters and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, about 1 inch apart.
Step 7: Bake to Perfection
Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 8-10 minutes. The edges should be firm and the centers should be slightly soft. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
Pro Tips for No-Spread Gingerbread Cookies
The secret to perfectly shaped cookies lies in temperature control. Chilling the dough solidifies the fat (butter), which means it melts more slowly in the oven, helping the cookies hold their shape. If your kitchen is warm, you can even chill the cut-out cookies on the baking sheet for 10-15 minutes before baking for extra insurance against spreading. For a sweet treat that holds its shape well, try our sugar cookie truffles recipe.
Decorating Your Gingerbread Cookies
Once your cookies are completely cool, it’s time to decorate! Royal icing is the best choice as it dries hard and allows for detailed designs. You can make a simple icing with powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water. Let your creativity run wild with festive colors and sprinkles. If you love holiday baking, you might also enjoy making our delicious homemade peppermint bark.
Storing and Make-Ahead Instructions
This gingerbread cookie recipe is perfect for making ahead. The dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Just thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before rolling and baking. Baked, undecorated cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. For more delicious make-ahead ideas, check out our hot chocolate fudge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, absolutely! The dough can be made and stored in the refrigerator, tightly wrapped in plastic, for up to 3 days. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw frozen dough in the refrigerator overnight before rolling.
Store the cooled, undecorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. If they are decorated with royal icing, let the icing dry completely before storing them in a single layer or between layers of parchment paper.
For cookies that are soft and chewy in the center with firm edges, we recommend rolling the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Thinner cookies will be crispier, while thicker cookies will be softer.
For a classic, robust flavor, use unsulphured dark molasses. Avoid blackstrap molasses, as it can be too bitter for this recipe. Light molasses can be used for a milder flavor if you prefer.
Gingerbread cookies typically spread because the dough was too warm before baking. The butter needs to be solid when it goes into the oven. To prevent this, always chill the dough for at least 3 hours, and consider chilling the cut-out shapes on the baking sheet for 10-15 minutes before baking.
The Perfect Gingerbread Cookie Recipe
Gingerbread Cookie Recipe (The Only One You’ll Need!)
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, ground ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer), beat the softened butter and brown sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the egg and molasses to the butter mixture and beat until well combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
- With the mixer on low, gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Divide the dough in half, flatten each into a 1-inch thick disk, and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for a minimum of 3 hours or overnight.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll one disk of dough out to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters and arrange them 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, until the edges are firm. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
Ensure your spices are fresh for the best flavor.
Cookies will seem soft in the center when they come out of the oven but will firm up as they cool.
Share Your Creations!
We hope you love this gingerbread cookie recipe as much as we do! It’s the perfect activity for creating holiday cheer with family and friends. If you make these cookies, we’d be thrilled to see your beautiful creations. Please share a photo and tag us on Pinterest! Your feedback and shares help us bring more delicious recipes to everyone.
