Classic Cut Out Gingerbread Cookies (Printable Version)

Soft spiced cookies cut into festive shapes and decorated with sweet icing and colorful sprinkles.

# What You Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 3/4 tsp baking soda
03 - 1/2 tsp baking powder
04 - 1 tbsp ground ginger
05 - 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
06 - 1/2 tsp ground cloves
07 - 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
08 - 1/4 tsp 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 tsp pure vanilla extract

→ For Decorating

14 - 2 cups powdered sugar
15 - 2-3 tbsp milk or water
16 - Assorted sprinkles, colored sugars, or edible pearls

# Directions:

01 - Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
02 - Beat softened butter and brown sugar together on medium speed until light and creamy, approximately 2 minutes.
03 - Add egg, molasses, and vanilla extract to the butter mixture. Mix until thoroughly incorporated.
04 - Gradually incorporate dry ingredients into wet mixture, mixing on low speed until a thick, uniform dough forms.
05 - Divide dough into two equal portions. Flatten each into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for minimum 1 hour or overnight.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
07 - On lightly floured surface, roll one portion of chilled dough to 1/4 inch thickness.
08 - Cut into shapes using cookie cutters. Arrange cookies 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets.
09 - Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges begin to turn golden. Cool on pan for 2 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.
10 - Stir powdered sugar with 2-3 tbsp milk or water until smooth but not runny. Adjust liquid for desired consistency.
11 - Apply icing and sprinkles to fully cooled cookies. Allow icing to set completely before serving or storing.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • These cookies hold their shape beautifully so your snowmen actually look like snowmen
  • The spice blend is perfectly balanced without being overwhelming
  • They stay soft enough to enjoy but sturdy enough for shipping to loved ones
02 -
  • Warm dough is your enemy here. If it gets sticky while rolling, pop it back in the fridge for 15 minutes
  • These continue cooking on the hot pan so pull them out when they look slightly underdone
  • Decorate only after they have completely cooled or your beautiful designs will slide right off
03 -
  • Use the same cutter size on each baking sheet so everything finishes at the same time
  • Rotate your pans halfway through baking for even browning
  • Freeze undecorated cookies between layers of wax paper for up to three months

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