Classic Gingerbread Cookies

Warm your home with the irresistible aroma of these Classic Gingerbread Cookies, perfect for the holiday season or any time you crave a nostalgic treat. This recipe combines the rich flavors of molasses, brown sugar, and a medley of aromatic spices—ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg—to create cookies that are delightfully spiced and perfectly chewy. With easy-to-follow steps, including chilling the dough for optimal texture and rolling it out for cutting festive shapes, these cookies are as fun to make as they are to eat. Ideal for decorating with icing or enjoying plain, they’re a timeless favorite that brings smiles to both kids and adults. Ready in just 40 minutes of active time, this batch yields 24 cookies, making it perfect for sharing. Whether you’re hosting a cookie exchange or stocking up on sweet treats, these gingerbread cookies are sure to become a cherished tradition!

Nutriscore Rating: 31/100

Prep Time:30 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:40 mins

Servings: 24

Ingredients

• 3 quarters (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened
• 3 quarters (3/4 cup) packed brown sugar
• 2 thirds (1/3 cup) molasses
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 0.5 teaspoon ground cloves
• 0.5 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 0.5 teaspoon salt

Directions

Step 1

In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter with the brown sugar using an electric mixer until creamy and well combined, about 2 minutes.

Step 2

Add the molasses, egg, and vanilla extract to the mixture, and mix on medium speed until fully incorporated.

Step 3

In another bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, ground nutmeg, and salt until thoroughly combined.

Step 4

Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until a dough forms.

Step 5

Divide the dough into two halves, flatten each into a disk, and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight for best results.

Step 6

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 7

Remove one dough disk from the refrigerator and let it sit for 5 minutes if it feels too hard to roll.

Step 8

On a floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4-inch thickness.

Step 9

Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes and place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart.

Step 10

Bake in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are set and just beginning to brown.

Step 11

Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Step 12

Repeat the rolling and baking with remaining dough disk.

Step 13

Decorate the cooled cookies with icing as desired. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1710.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	7908.6

Total Fat 443.5g	0%
Saturated Fat 275.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.9g
Cholesterol 1358.5mg	0%
Sodium 2851.9mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 964.5g	0%
Dietary Fiber 12.3g	0%
Total Sugars 677.8g
Protein 48.1g	0%

Vitamin D 48IU	0%
Calcium 1104.3mg	0%
Iron 32.4mg	0%
Potassium 4439.9mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 49.6%

Protein: 2.4%

Carbs: 48.0%