My absolute favorite gingerbread cookie recipe. These little guys are packed with flavor from molasses, lemon and orange, as well as ginger and lots of spices. Baking time can be adjusted on whether you prefer softer gingerbread, or crispy gingerbread.
If you are planning on using this gingerbread recipe for decorated cookies, I recommend baking them to a crispier consistency, so the cookie has enough stability and won’t bend and crack the icing. I have a royal icing recipe and tutorial.
When you add the eggs, lemon juice, and molasses to the sugar and butter mixture, it will not fully combine. Don’t panic, once you add the dry ingredients, the ingredients will fully incorporate.
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Gingerbread Cookies
Equipment
- measuring cups and spoons
- whisk and spatula
- citrus zester and juicer
- cling wrap
- cookie cutters
Ingredients
- ¾ stick unsalted butter room temperature
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ medium orange zested
- 1 large egg room temperature
- ¼ cup molasses
- ½ medium lemon juiced
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoons cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon all spice
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Sift dry ingredients together and set aside.
- Cream sugar, butter and orange zest for 5-8 minutes, until light and fluffy.
- Whisk eggs, molasses and lemon juice together in another bowl.
- Add egg mixture to butter mixture.
- Combine dry ingredients with wet until just combined. Avoid overworking dough, or cookies will be tough.
- Wrap in cling wrap and chill overnight.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Lightly knead dough, roll out, and cut cookies. Place on silicone mat or parchment paper lined baking sheet, leaving 2 inches between each cookie. Return cut out cookies to refrigerator or freezer for a few minutes until firm before baking.
- For soft gingerbread cookies, bake 10-12 minutes. For crispy gingerbread cookies, bake for up to 20 minutes.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool on cookie sheet.
maria Zikas
Do you have the metric conversion for the Gingerbread cookie recipe please
Tyler April Townley
If you hit the “print recipe” button on the recipe card, it then gives you the option to convert to metric
maria Zikas
Hi Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I have printed your recipes before ( especially your lemon , no spread shortbread- big hit with the family) and had the option to convert to metric but this one (the gingerbread ) does not give me the option to go metric. I have done what you said by going to print the recipe but I cannot see the option to convert. Are you able to email me this recipe to my email address please?
Regards
maria Zikas
maria Zikas
Found it.Thanks
Diane
These look so good, and I love gingerbread without all the icing. Could you share the cookie cutter with the stamp? Super cute!
Tyler April Townley
The gingerbread cutter with the stamp was from Sweet Sugarbelle. I’m not sure if they make it anymore, but there are similar cutters on etsy.