Simple Gingerbread Cookies Recipe - Happy Foods Tube (2024)

These simple gingerbread cookies make a great edible Christmas gift. They can be also turned into Christmas ornaments! Honey flavored dough makes them extra delicious.

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Simple Gingerbread Cookies Recipe - Happy Foods Tube (1)

Guys, these simple gingerbread cookies are one of my family’s favorite Christmas cookies. They are always a crowd’s favorite!

If you like making gifts yourself, here are some more edible Christmas gift ideas that you may like:

  • Cinnamon Roasted Almonds
  • Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies
  • Gingerbread Syrup
  • Linzer Cookies
  • Candied Orange Slices

By the way, these gingerbread cookies don’t contain any molasses so they will turn out light brown rather than dark brown. One of the ingredients used in this recipe is honey which gives them a nice flavor. It’s also a traditional way of making them in Slovakia where I come from.

Simple Gingerbread Cookies Recipe - Happy Foods Tube (2)

How to make gingerbread cookies from scratch

To make the dough all you need to do is combine all the ingredients. You can do this in a large mixing bowl or on a worktop.

I personally prefer the second option as it’s quicker. So start with sifting flour, baking soda and sugar. Add the spices and mix everything until well combined.

Now it’s time to add honey and butter. You will need to get your hands dirty at this stage as you need to turn all these ingredients into dough.

The dough will be soft and sticky but that’s ok. Just wrap it into a cling film and refrigerate overnight.

Simple Gingerbread Cookies Recipe - Happy Foods Tube (3)

This gingerbread cookie dough can be made well ahead so if you don’t find time to bake these Holiday cookies the following day, don’t worry! This dough keeps can be stored in the fridge for up to 7 days. Just make sure you wrap it in cling film, plastic bag or zip-lock bag.

When you are ready for baking, take the dough out from the fridge and roll it out thin. Cut out any shapes you like. The number of cookies will vary depending on the size and shape of your cutters. To make these festive cookies extra shiny, you can brush them with egg wash about 2 minutes before they are done.

And remember, gingerbread cookies bake pretty quick so it’s best to keep an eye on them.

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Ingredients:

  • All-purpose flour (Plain flour – UK)
  • Baking soda
  • Powdered sugar (Icing sugar – UK)
  • Butter
  • Honey
  • Gingerbread spice mix

The gingerbread spice mix is very easy to make and also makes a great DIY Christmas present. However, if you don’t want to buy all the spices for your homemade blend, just combine ground cinnamon, cloves and ginger (or cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg) and you are good to go. Your gingerbread cookies will still taste like Christmas.

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Decorating gingerbread cookies:

Feel free to decorate these gingerbread cookies any way you like. You can use shop-bought royal icing or homemade one. I always make my own. It’s a mixture of powdered sugar, egg white and a squeeze of lemon juice.

If you like to make your own as well check out this post: Gingerbread Christmas candle holder where you will find the full instructions.

I hope you will enjoy baking and decorating these Christmas cookies as much as we do.

Guys, I wish you all a Merry Christmas! May the spirit of Christmas fill your home with peace, joy and love!

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5 from 10 votes

Simple Gingerbread Cookies

These simple gingerbread cookies make a great edible Christmas gift. They can be also turned into Christmas ornaments! Honey flavored dough makes them extra delicious.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time10 minutes mins

Total Time20 minutes mins

Servings: 60 Cookies

Calories: 32

Author: Julia

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a bowl, mix together sifted flour, sifted sugar and gingerbread spice mix.

  • Add the egg, butter and honey. Using your hand combine all the ingredients together until you form a sticky dough.

  • Place the dough in a plastic bag and refrigerate overnight.

  • The following day take the dough out. Roll it thin and cut out any shapes you like.

  • Bake at 350°F/180°C for 10 minutes.

Notes

  1. Plastic Bag – Zip-lock bag is a great choice but cling film can also be used.
  2. Optional – To get a really shiny look on your gingerbread cookies, shortly before they are ready (about 8 minutes into baking) take the cookies out and brush with egg wash.

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Christmas cookies, Gingerbread Cookies Recipe, Holiday Cookies, Homemade Gingerbread Cookies

Nutrition Facts

Simple Gingerbread Cookies

Amount per Serving

Calories

32

% Daily Value*

Cholesterol

4

mg

1

%

Carbohydrates

5

g

2

%

Sugar

2

g

2

%

Vitamin A

25

IU

1

%

Calcium

2

mg

%

Iron

0.2

mg

1

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

** As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Tried this recipe?Follow @happyfoodstube and tag #happyfoodstube

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More easy Holiday recipes

Simple Gingerbread Cookies Recipe - Happy Foods Tube (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between gingerbread and ginger snap cookies? ›

Introduced in colonial times, the main differences between Gingerbread and Ginger Snaps are a longer bake time for an extra crisp and the use of molasses versus sugar. Molasses was used as substitute for sugar as it was the more affordable alternative to sweetening.

What makes gingerbread cookies crack on top? ›

You have a few things that can go wrong: The oven isn't hot enough. (it needs to set the top before the middle's fully risen) Not enough leavening (it needs to be strong enough to crack the top once it's set)

Are gingerbread cookies only for Christmas? ›

If you're planning the consummate Christmas cookie platter, eyebrows may be raised if there aren't a few gingerbread men peering out from their raisin eyes. Yes, this is the perfect time to talk about gingerbread. Funny thing is, gingerbread really is a year-round thing.

Is a gingerbread house a cookie? ›

A gingerbread house is a novelty confectionery shaped like a building that is made of cookie dough, cut and baked into appropriate components like walls and roofing. The usual base material is crisp gingerbread, hence the name.

What are the three types of gingerbread? ›

The three distinct types of gingerbread are brown gingerbread, wafer-based gingerbread and honey gingerbread.
  • BROWN GINGERBREAD.
  • WAFER GINGERBREAD.
  • HONEY GINGERBREAD.

Should gingerbread cookies be hard or soft? ›

Should gingerbread cookies be hard or soft? Soft gingerbread biscuits are ideal. They ought to be flexible. However, they should still be somewhat elastic, and if you hold them too firmly because you're so excited to eat them, you might even be able to leave your fingerprints on the cookie!

What happens if you add too much butter to gingerbread cookies? ›

But one unexpected error bakers can make is adding too much of a good thing, butter. Although butter generally makes it all better, bakers who go overboard with it are dooming their cookies to a greasy and crumbly texture.

Why is my gingerbread cookie dough so dry? ›

If your cookie dough is too dry and crumbly, it might not have enough fat. This is a common problem with recipes that use all-purpose flour. To fix this, you can add more fat to the dough. This can be in the form of butter, shortening, or even olive oil.

Why do you put molasses in gingerbread? ›

The deep, caramel-like sweetness of molasses pairs perfectly with the warm spices of ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, creating the iconic flavor profile of these classic treats. The choice of molasses over other sweeteners adds a depth and complexity that elevates gingerbread to a cherished holiday tradition.

What is a substitute for ginger in gingerbread cookies? ›

Allspice, Turmeric, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, or Mace. Of course, none of these spices really tastes like ginger. Instead, think of them as alternatives rather than direct substitutes: In a recipe that calls for ground ginger, you can substitute the same amount of any of these spices—or a mixture of them.

What is a good substitute for gingerbread? ›

Almost any kind of sturdy cookie dough will work. Gingerbread is only one type of dough, and it's popular for houses and other decorations because it is a traditional holiday treat. But you can make sugar cookie dough, chocolate cookie dough, pretty much any stiff, rollable dough.

Can dogs eat gingerbread? ›

The answer is no. While you may not immediately see negative affects in your pet's health, gingerbread is high in oil and fats that can slow your pet down. Also, Rover reports that gingerbread can cause pancreatitis in dogs, which sounds like a big ol' NO from us.

Is it OK to eat gingerbread house? ›

“Edible” is a loose term, apparently. A gingerbread house is about as edible as play-dough—you can eat it, but should you? These houses are usually left out for days (more on that later), drying out and crusting over.

What is Victorian gingerbread? ›

gingerbread, in architecture and design, elaborately detailed embellishment, either lavish or superfluous. Although the term is occasionally applied to highly detailed and decorative styles, it is more often applied specifically to the work of American designers of the late 1860s and '70s.

Do ginger snaps taste like gingerbread cookies? ›

Some go light on the ginger, others use so much it's like they want to set your chest on fire. Then there's allspice, clove, cinnamon, brown sugar, and molasses—all of which are ingredients used interchangeably in ginger snaps and gingerbread cookies. We found this taste test to be very comforting.

Is gingerbread the same as ginger? ›

The original term “gingerbread” referred to preserved ginger, which was developed into a confection made with honey and spices. Later, the term was used to refer to the French confectionery pain d'epices (spice bread) and the German Lebkuchen or Pfefferkuchen (pepperbread or pepper cake).

What is another name for ginger snap cookies? ›

A gingersnap, ginger snap, ginger nut, or ginger biscuit is a biscuit flavored with ginger. Ginger snaps are flavored with powdered ginger and a variety of other spices, most commonly cinnamon, molasses and clove.

Is gingerbread the same as ginger biscuits? ›

Ginger biscuit should not be mistaken with gingerbread, because the former is a hard biscuit while the latter is thicker and a bit softer and more bread-like. Ginger biscuits are also called ginger nuts, but they are not the same with the pepper nuts. Again pepper nuts are more like gingerbread.

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