With their charming shapes—often decorated with icing and candies—gingerbread cookies are a holiday tradition that dates back centuries. Making these cookies from scratch not only fills your kitchen with the comforting aroma of spices like ginger, cinnamon, and cloves but also brings the joy of creating something festive and delicious with your hands.
An old fashioned gingerbread cookie recipe is all about getting the right balance of spices, sweetness, and that perfect chewy or crunchy texture depending on your preference. These cookies can be shaped into classic gingerbread men, trees, stars, or any holiday shape you like, making them as fun to decorate as they are to eat.
Let’s walk through how to make old fashioned gingerbread cookies that will become a staple in your holiday baking repertoire.
1. Old Fashioned Gingerbread Cookie Recipe
Ingredients
For the Cookies
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
- ⅔ cup molasses (unsulphured for the best flavor)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For the Royal Icing (optional, for decorating)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 large egg white (or 2 tablespoons meringue powder)
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice or vanilla extract
- Food coloring (optional)
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Dough
Cream the butter and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the unsalted butter and brown sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy. This typically takes about 2-3 minutes. The creaming process helps incorporate air, which gives the cookies a light texture.
Add the molasses, egg, and vanilla: Beat in the molasses, egg, and vanilla extract until well combined. Molasses is key to achieving the deep, rich flavor that defines gingerbread cookies. Make sure to use unsulphured molasses for the best flavor and color.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
Whisk the dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt. The combination of these spices gives gingerbread its signature warmth and spiciness.
Combine the wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter and sugar mixture, mixing on low speed just until combined. The dough will be thick and slightly sticky, but resist the urge to add more flour, as this could make the cookies tough.
Step 3: Chill the Dough
Chill the dough: Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to overnight. Chilling the dough firms it up, making it easier to roll out and cut into shapes. It also allows the flavors to develop and blend together.
Step 4: Roll and Cut the Dough
Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
Roll out the dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to about ¼ inch thick. Make sure to dust your rolling pin with a little flour to prevent sticking. If the dough becomes too soft to handle, pop it back in the fridge for a few minutes.
Cut out shapes: Use your favorite cookie cutters to cut the dough into shapes. Traditional gingerbread men or women are popular, but you can also use stars, trees, or any holiday-themed cutters you like.
Transfer to baking sheets: Carefully transfer the cut-out shapes to the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1 inch of space between each cookie.
Step 5: Bake the Cookies
Bake the cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, depending on the size of your cookies and how crisp or soft you like them. For crispier cookies, bake closer to 10 minutes; for softer cookies, aim for 8 minutes.
Cool the cookies: Once the cookies are golden around the edges and puffed in the center, remove them from the oven. Let them cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Step 6: Decorate the Cookies (Optional)
Make the royal icing: If you’d like to decorate your gingerbread cookies, whip up a batch of royal icing. In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, egg white (or meringue powder), and lemon juice until smooth and glossy. If you’d like colorful icing, divide the icing into separate bowls and add a few drops of food coloring to each one.
Decorate the cookies: Using a piping bag or a small zip-top bag with the corner snipped off, pipe the royal icing onto the cooled cookies. Get creative with your designs—decorate the gingerbread men with buttons, smiles, and scarves, or add intricate patterns to stars and trees. Let the icing harden completely before serving or storing the cookies.
2. Tips for the Best Gingerbread Cookies
Chill the dough: Chilling the dough is essential for easy rolling and cutting, so don’t skip this step. It prevents the dough from sticking to your rolling pin and keeps the cookies from spreading too much during baking.
Use a light hand with the flour: When rolling out the dough, lightly flour your surface and rolling pin, but don’t overdo it. Too much flour can make the cookies tough and dry.
Adjust the baking time for texture: If you prefer chewy gingerbread cookies, bake them for a shorter time (around 8 minutes). For crispier cookies with a snap, extend the baking time to 10 minutes.
Make ahead: Gingerbread dough can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Simply thaw the dough in the fridge overnight before rolling and cutting.
Store cookies properly: Once baked and decorated, store gingerbread cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll stay fresh for up to 1-2 weeks. If you want to keep them softer, add a slice of bread to the container—the cookies will absorb moisture from the bread, helping them stay soft.
3. Fun Variations for Gingerbread Cookies
Chocolate-Dipped Gingerbread: For an extra special treat, dip half of each gingerbread cookie in melted chocolate once they’ve cooled. Allow the chocolate to set on a sheet of parchment paper before serving. This adds a rich, decadent twist to the traditional gingerbread flavor.
Spiced Gingerbread: For a more intense spice flavor, increase the amount of ginger, cinnamon, and cloves in the dough. You can also add a pinch of cardamom or allspice for an even more complex flavor profile.
Old Fashioned gingerbread cookies are a timeless holiday treat that fills your home with the warm, spicy aromas of ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. With their rich flavor, delightful texture, and charming shapes, they’re sure to become a favorite in your holiday baking lineup.
