gingerbread cookies

Gingerbread cookies are a classic holiday treat, and making gingerbread people is a fun activity for the whole family. These cookies are not only delicious but also perfect for decorating with icing. Here’s a recipe for creating gingerbread people that are crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 tsp baking powder

  • 1/2 tsp baking soda

  • 1/4 tsp salt

  • 2 tsp ground ginger

  • 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves

  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

  • 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar

  • 1 large egg

  • 1/2 cup molasses

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

  1. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.

  2. In a separate large bowl, beat the softened butter and brown sugar together until creamy and smooth. Add in the egg, molasses, and vanilla extract, and beat until well combined.

  3. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until well combined.

  4. Divide the dough in half and shape each half into a disk. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or overnight.

  5. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  6. Take one of the dough disks out of the refrigerator and place it on a lightly floured surface. Roll out the dough until it's about 1/4-inch thick.

  7. Use gingerbread people cookie cutters to cut out the shapes from the rolled-out dough. Transfer the cut-out cookies to the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch between each cookie.

  8. Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

  9. Repeat the rolling and cutting process with the remaining dough, and bake the cookies as directed.

  10. Once the cookies are cooled, it's time to decorate them! You can use royal icing, sprinkles, candy, and more to make each gingerbread person unique.

These gingerbread people are sure to be a hit with your family and friends. Enjoy the delicious flavors of ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, and have fun decorating each cookie. Happy baking!