Classic Cut Out Gingerbread Cookies (Printable)

Soft spiced cookies perfect for festive shapes and colorful decorating with icing.

# 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

# How-To:

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 on medium speed until light and creamy, approximately 2 minutes.
03 - Add egg, molasses, and vanilla extract. Mix until thoroughly combined.
04 - Gradually incorporate dry ingredients into wet mixture on low speed until thick 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. Place 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets.
09 - Bake 8-10 minutes until edges begin to turn golden. Cool 2 minutes on pan, 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 - Decorate cooled cookies with icing and sprinkles. Allow icing to set before serving or storing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The dough rolls out like a dream after proper chilling, no sticking or tearing
  • These cookies stay soft for days thanks to the perfect butter-molasses ratio
  • The spice blend hits that sweet spot between warm and bold without being overwhelming
02 -
  • Chilling the dough is not optional, it prevents the cookies from spreading too much and losing their shape
  • Rolling thickness directly affects texture, thinner cookies bake crisper while thicker ones stay softer
  • Let cookies cool completely before decorating or the icing will melt right off
03 -
  • Rotate your baking sheets halfway through for even browning
  • Flour your rolling pin and work surface generously to prevent sticking

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