Gingerbread Cookies 101 Recipes

GINGERBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• For the cookies: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, white pepper, salt, baking soda, nutmeg and cloves. Set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter, brown sugar and barley malt syrup until smooth. Scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl. Add the egg and continue to mix until completely incorporated. Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl again and add the vanilla, fresh ginger and orange zest.
• Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in the mixer. Mix until just combined. Then, turn the dough out onto a sheet of plastic wrap and press into a disk. Cover completely in the plastic wrap and chill for 20 minutes.
• Roll the dough out about 1/4 inch thick between 2 pieces of lightly floured parchment paper. Place the rolled out dough onto parchment on a cookie sheet in the freezer for 15 minutes.
• Cut the dough with cookie cutters and place onto parchment-lined cookie sheets. You can gather scraps together and reroll the dough 1 additional time.
• Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until just beginning to brown around the edges. Allow the cookies to cool completely before decorating.
• For the royal icing: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (see Cook's Note), add the confectioners' sugar and meringue powder and beat to combine. Add 4 tablespoons of warm water and beat to combine. Raise the paddle head to check the consistency of the icing; the icing should be thick and smooth, but not dripping from the paddle. Add more water until the desired consistency is reached. (You can add slightly more water to achieve a flooding consistency to completely cover the cookies; use a stiffer consistency to pipe decorations and details.) Immediately transfer the icing to a pastry bag fitted with a small open tip. Decorate the gingerbread cookies.

THE MOST WONDERFUL GINGERBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves until well blended.
• In a large bowl (KitchenAid's great for this) beat butter, brown sugar, and egg on medium speed until well blended.
• Add molasses, vanilla, and lemon zest and continue to mix until well blended.
• Gradually stir in dry ingredients until blended and smooth.
• Divide dough in half and wrap each half in plastic and let stand at room temperature for at least 2 hours or up to 8 hours.
• Preheat oven to 375 deg. Prepare baking sheets by lining with parchment paper.
• (Dough can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, but in this case it should be refrigerated. Return to room temp before using.) Preheat oven to 375°.
• Grease or line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
• Place 1 portion of the dough on a lightly floured surface.
• Sprinkle flour over dough and rolling pin.
• Roll dough to a scant 1/4-inch thick.
• Use additional flour to avoid sticking.
• Cut out cookies with desired cutter-- the ginger bread man is our favorite of course.
• Space cookies 1 1/2-inches apart.
• Bake 1 sheet at a time for 7-10 minutes (the lower time will give you softer cookies-- very good!).
• Remove cookie sheet from oven and allow the cookies to stand until the cookies are firm enough to move to a wire rack.
• After cookies are cool you may decorate them any way you like.
• I usually brush them with a powdered sugar glaze when I am in a hurry, but they look wonderful decorated with Royal icing.

GINGERBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease one cookie sheet.
• Mix together the molasses, brown sugar, water and shortening.
• Sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, allspice, ginger, cloves and cinnamon. Add to sugar mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
• Roll dough 1/4 inch thick on floured board. Cut with floured gingerbread cutter. Place about 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Cool and decorate with frosting.

GINGERBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine brown sugar, molasses and shortening. Place over medium-low heat and stir just until mixture is melted and smooth. Remove from heat and mix in baking soda and 1/4 cup cold water. Set aside and allow to cool to room temperature.
• Add egg, salt, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon and cloves; stir to mix well. Add 4 cups flour and mix well, adding up to 1/2 cup more if dough seems sticky. Shape into a ball, cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, up to 24 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4-inch thickness, and cut into gingerbread boy shapes with a 5-inch-long cookie cutter. Arrange on baking sheets 1 1/2 inches apart, and bake until risen and no longer shiny, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and allow cookies to cool. If desired, decorate with royal icing and cinnamon candies. Store in an airtight container.

GINGERBREAD COOKIES RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, combine the butter and 1 cup (200 G) sugar with an electric hand mixer on medium speed for about 5 minutes, until light and fluffy.
• Add the egg and molasses, and beat until smooth.
• In a medium bowl, combine the Pillsbury™ Best™ All-Purpose Flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until well combined.
• Spread the remaining ½ cup (100 G) sugar in a shallow dish.
• Using a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop with a spring release, scoop a slightly heaped portion of dough and roll into a ball about 1½ inches (3.81 cm) in diameter. Roll the dough ball in the sugar to coat (optional), then place on a prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough, spacing the balls 2 inches (5 cm) apart. (Bake in batches if needed so the cookies have ample room to spread.)
• Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, until puffed and lightly browned. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
• Once the cookies have cooled, spread 1-2 tablespoons of Pillsbury™ Creamy Supreme® Vanilla Frosting over each one and decorate with festive sprinkles.
• Enjoy!

BASIC GINGERBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in spices and salt. Add eggs and molasses; mix well. With the machine on low speed, gradually add flour mixture, and beat until combined. Divide the dough into thirds, and wrap each piece of dough in plastic. Chill at least 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with Silpat nonstick baking mats or parchment paper. Set aside. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to 1/8 inch thick. Cut into gingerbread boys and girls. Transfer to prepared baking sheets.
• To decorate cookies: Press currants into dough to create buttons. Bake cookies until crisp but not darkened, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack. Let cool completely.
• Decorate cooled cookies with Royal Icing.

AUNT MABEL'S SUPER EASY GINGERBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch square baking dish.
• Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, salt, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves together in a large bowl.
• Place molasses, canola oil, applesauce, brown sugar, white sugar, and eggs into a mixing bowl and beat until well combined. Add flour mixture and mix, starting on low speed, until just combined. Mix in boiling water until combined; mixture will be very wet. Pour into the prepared baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until center is rounded and edges are golden, 30 to 35 minutes. Cut into squares. Best served warm, or at any temperature.

GINGERBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• In a bowl, beat butter and sugar until crumbly, about 2 minutes. Beat in the molasses, egg and vinegar. Combine the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or until easy to handle (dough will be sticky)., On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with 4 in. cookie cutters dipped in flour. Using a floured spatula, place cookies 1 in. apart on baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 5-6 minutes or until set. Remove to wire racks to cool., For icing, combine confectioners' sugar and milk in bowl. Spread over cooled cookies; let dry completely. If desired, combine paste food coloring and a few drops of water; using a fine brush or the blunt end of a wooden skewer, decorate cookies.

GINGERBREAD 3D COOKIES 4 WAYS RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk the melted butter, brown sugar, molasses, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and allspice until smooth.
• Whisk in the egg until combined.
• Fold in the baking powder, baking soda, and half of the flour.
• Add the rest of the flour until dough comes together.
• Wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
• Roll out the dough to ¼-inch (6 mm) thickness. Cut into the desired shape using small knife.
• Take the extra dough and roll out again to ¼-inch (6 mm) thickness. Continue to cut shapes until dough is used. If dough gets too soft, transfer to fridge before rolling out.
• Transfer shapes to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes.
• Carefully transfer the cookies to a baking rack and cool completely.
• Equally divide the powdered sugar in three bowls.
• Add two tablespoons of milk to each and whisk until smooth. If too runny add more powdered sugar, if too thick add more milk.
• Add red food coloring to one bowl and green to the other.
• Transfer icings to three different piping bags with a thin tip.
• Decorate the cookies and allow to set before assembling.
• Fit the cookie pieces into each other to allow the cookies to stand.
• Enjoy!