Gingerbread Cookies

by Pam on December 20, 2012

The kids and I decided to make some Christmas treats this year and my daughter suggested gingerbread shaped cookies that they could decorate. I found a terrific recipe on Simply Recipes^[1] that worked great. It was the perfect way to spend the afternoon… listening to Christmas music, smelling gingerbread cookies baking, spending time with my children, and seeing them having so much fun. The cookies turned out soft and chewy and so flavorful. The kids used up all of the sprinkles and frosting we had in the baking cabinet and decorated their hearts out for over an hour. A great time was had by all!

Combine the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and salt together in a bowl and mix until well combined.

Using a mixer, beat the butter and sugar together until fluffy and creamy. Mix in egg and molasses. Gradually add the flour mixture; you may need to work it with your hands to incorporate the flour mixture. Divide dough in half; wrap each half in plastic wrap. Chill for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Roll out the dough on lightly floured parchment paper. If after refrigerating the dough feels too soft to roll-out, work in a little more flour.

Using a rolling pin, roll dough 1/8 inch thick. Refrigerate again for 5-10 minutes to make it easier to cut out the cookies. Use a cookie cutter to cut into desired shapes. Form the leftover dough into a dish and place into the freezer for a few minutes to get chilled before re-rolling and cutting out shapes; repeat.

Carefully transfer the cutout cookies to an ungreased baking sheet.

Bake until crisp but not darkened, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven. Let sit a few minutes before transferring the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Decorate as desired.

 Eat them plain or dipped in milk. Enjoy!!

Print^[2]

Save^[3]

Gingerbread Cookies

Yield: 20-25 misc. shaped cookies

Ingredients:

3 1/4 cups flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tbsp ginger
1 tbsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp clove
1/2 tsp salt
1 large egg
1/2 cup molasses
Miscellaneous decorations (frosting, sprinkles, etc.)

Directions:

Combine the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and salt together in a bowl and mix until well combined.
Using a mixer, beat the butter and sugar together until fluffy and creamy. Mix in egg and molasses. Gradually add the flour mixture; you may need to work it with your hands to incorporate the flour mixture. Divide dough in half; wrap each half in plastic wrap. Chill for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Roll out the dough on lightly floured parchment paper. If after refrigerating the dough feels too soft to roll-out, work in a little more flour.

Using a rolling pin, roll dough 1/8 inch thick. Refrigerate again for 5-10 minutes to make it easier to cut out the cookies. Use a cookie cutter to cut into desired shapes. Form the leftover dough into a dish and place into the freezer for a few minutes to get chilled before re-rolling and cutting out shapes; repeat.

Transfer to ungreased baking sheets. Bake until crisp but not darkened, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven. Let sit a few minutes before transferring the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Decorate as desired. Enjoy!

Adapted recipe and photos by For the Love of Cooking.net
Original recipe by Simply Recipes

References

1. ^{^} Simply Recipes (www.simplyrecipes.com)
2. ^{^} Print Recipe (www.gordon-ramsay-recipe.com)
3. ^{^} Save to ZipList Recipe Box (www.gordon-ramsay-recipe.com)