I’m super stoked to share this gingerbread cookie recipe that I’ve played around with for ages—you won’t believe how tasty these little treats turn out! First up, you’ll need 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves, 1/2 cup unsalted butter (make sure its softened), 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 1 egg, 1/4 cup molasses, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; feel free to grab some colored royal icing, sprinkles, or edible dust for decorating later on if you’re into that vibe. So, preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a big bowl, sift together your flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. In another bowl, cream the butter with the sugar until the mix is nice and light (trust me, it makes a difference), then beat in the egg and stir in your molasses and vanilla. Slowly add the dry stuff to your wet ingredients until the dough just comes together—don’t overmix it cuz that could mess things up. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it chill in the fridge for about an hour so it firms up. Once chilled, lightly dust a clean surface with flour and roll the dough to roughly 1/4 inch thick. Use whichever cookie cutter shape you love to cut out the cookies and place them on your baking sheet. Bake them for about 8 to 10 minutes until the edges start to brown lightly, let them cool completely, and then have fun decorating with your icing, sprinkles, or edible dust. Enjoy making these cookies as much as you’re gonna eat them!
I think these Decorated Spice Cookies are my favorite because they mix classic ingredients like flour, butter, and molasses with warming spices such as cinnamon, ginger and cloves. I love that their balanced nutritional value comes from a careful blend of egg, sugar and molasses, making them a real treat with pretty icing.
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour provides structure and carbohydrates, it also gives a tiny bit of protein.
- Baking powder helps cookies rise nicely and achieve a light airy texture its cool.
- Unsalted butter adds richness, moisture and essential fats for both brittle edges and soft centers.
- Sugar sweetens our mix and creates a crisp, lovely exterior when
Ingredient Quantities
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optional: Colored royal icing, sprinkles, or edible dust for decorating
How to Make this
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, sift together 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, and 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves.
3. In another bowl, cream 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened) with 3/4 cup granulated sugar until the mix looks light and fluffy.
4. Beat in 1 egg, then stir in 1/4 cup molasses and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until it is all well-combined.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring slowly until the dough just comes together.
6. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the dough in the fridge for about an hour to firm it up.
7. Once chilled, lightly dust a clean surface with flour and roll the dough to roughly 1/4 inch thick.
8. Use your favourite cookie cutter to cut out shapes and place them on the baking sheet.
9. Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for about 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges start to brown lightly.
10. Let the cookies cool completely then decorate with colored royal icing, sprinkles, or edible dust if you want extra fun.Equipment Needed
1. Preheated oven
2. Baking sheet lined with parchment paper
3. Large bowl for sifting dry ingredients
4. Second bowl for creaming butter and sugar
5. Sifter
6. Measuring cups and spoons
7. Electric or hand mixer
8. Spatula or spoon for stirring
9. Plastic wrap for covering the dough bowl
10. Clean, floured counter or board for rolling out the dough
11. Rolling pin
12. Cookie cutters
13. Cooling rack
14. Decorating tools like piping bags or spatulas for icingFAQ
-
Q: How do i know when my cookies are done?
A: Theyre done when they turn lightly brown around the edges and feel firm to the touch. Just be careful not to overbake ’em. -
Q: Can i swap the molasses for another sweetener?
A: Yes, you can use honey or maple syrup, but the flavor will be a bit different. Molasses give these cookies their classic spice taste. -
Q: Can i freeze the dough if needed?
A: Yeah, you can freeze the dough. Just wrap it tight and let it thaw a bit before baking then, adjust your cooking time if needed. -
Q: How should i store leftover cookies?
A: Store them in an airtight container at room temperature, and they should keep well for a few days. If you need longer storage, try freezing. -
Q: Any tips for decorating these cookies?
A: Make sure the cookies are completely cool before adding any royal icing or sprinkles. That way, the decorations stick better and look great.
Decorated Spice Cookies Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- All-purpose flour: You can try a mix of 2 cups all-purpose flour and 3/4 cup whole wheat flour for a slightly nuttier taste, though it might impact the texture a bit.
- Unsalted butter: If you don’t have unsalted butter, you may use salted butter but ease up on the added salt. Or, try coconut oil if you need a dairy-free option (keep in mind it adds a hint of coconut flavor).
- Granulated sugar: Light brown sugar works as a good substitute, giving the cookies a richer flavor and a bit moister texture.
- Egg: For a vegan-friendly alternative, mix 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons water and let it sit for about 5 minutes to thicken before using it as one egg.
- Molasses: If you’re short on molasses, dark corn syrup or a mix of honey (with a few drops of lemon juice to balance sweetness) can be used, though they might slightly alter the classic flavor.
Pro Tips
1. Make sure you sift out all your dry ingredients real good. It helps mix the spices evenly so you dont get some cookies that taste weird or have clumps of flour.
2. Don’t skip the chilling step. Letting the dough chill for around one hour makes it easier to roll out and cut, and it stops the cookies from spreading too much in the oven.
3. When creaming your butter and sugar, beat them until they look light and fluffy. If you dont do it long enough, your cookies might not get that nice tender texture.
4. If you plan on decorating with icing or sprinkles, wait until the cookies are completely cool. Otherwise, the decor might melt or slide off, ruining your design.
Decorated Spice Cookies Recipe
My favorite Decorated Spice Cookies Recipe
Equipment Needed:
1. Preheated oven
2. Baking sheet lined with parchment paper
3. Large bowl for sifting dry ingredients
4. Second bowl for creaming butter and sugar
5. Sifter
6. Measuring cups and spoons
7. Electric or hand mixer
8. Spatula or spoon for stirring
9. Plastic wrap for covering the dough bowl
10. Clean, floured counter or board for rolling out the dough
11. Rolling pin
12. Cookie cutters
13. Cooling rack
14. Decorating tools like piping bags or spatulas for icingIngredients:
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optional: Colored royal icing, sprinkles, or edible dust for decorating
Instructions:
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, sift together 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, and 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves.
3. In another bowl, cream 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened) with 3/4 cup granulated sugar until the mix looks light and fluffy.
4. Beat in 1 egg, then stir in 1/4 cup molasses and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until it is all well-combined.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring slowly until the dough just comes together.
6. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the dough in the fridge for about an hour to firm it up.
7. Once chilled, lightly dust a clean surface with flour and roll the dough to roughly 1/4 inch thick.
8. Use your favourite cookie cutter to cut out shapes and place them on the baking sheet.
9. Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for about 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges start to brown lightly.
10. Let the cookies cool completely then decorate with colored royal icing, sprinkles, or edible dust if you want extra fun.