Gingerbread Cookies with Icing (Printable)
Spiced gingerbread with crisp edges and smooth vanilla icing, ideal for festive or everyday enjoyment.
# Ingredient List:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
04 - 1 tablespoon ground ginger
05 - 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
06 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
07 - 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
09 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
10 - 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
11 - 1 large egg
12 - 1/2 cup unsulphured molasses
13 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
→ Icing
14 - 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
15 - 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
16 - 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
17 - Food coloring (optional)
# Steps:
01 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside.
02 - In a large bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then add molasses and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined.
03 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined.
04 - Divide dough in half, flatten each into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
05 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
06 - On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters and arrange on prepared sheets, spacing 1 inch apart.
07 - Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until edges are set. Let cookies cool on the sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
08 - Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Adjust milk quantity to reach desired consistency. Add food coloring if used.
09 - Once fully cooled, decorate cookies with icing using a piping bag or spoon. Allow icing to set before serving or storage.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- These cookies balance a crisp edge with a soft center, a texture harmony that feels like sharing a warm secret with a close friend
- The blend of spices combined with sweet vanilla icing made this my go-to recipe every holiday season
02 -
- Chilling the dough is essential; skipping this can make cookies spread too thin and lose their shape
- Adjust baking time to your preferred texture, it’s the little change that transformed my results entirely
03 -
- Invest time in chilling each dough batch separately for perfect consistency
- Use pure vanilla extract in both dough and icing to amplify every flavor layer