Jody’s Gingerbread Cookies
Want a gingerbread cookie that’s actually delicious? Slightly soft, but sturdy enough to slather with beautiful royal icing? Look no further. Jody has created the ultimate Gingerbread Cookie Recipe for us all, complete with a handy decorating guide!
Get creative with your decorating, whether it’s with royal icing (which will harden), sprinkles, or, like our kids, just smothered with holiday M&M’s, these cookies will become a family tradition!
Read our Cookie Blog before getting started for the best success!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 390 g (appox 2 1/2 cups) all-purpose flour
- 60 g ( 1/2 cup) cornstarch
- 1 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves
- Pinch nutmeg
- 115 g (1/2 cup) butter, room temperature
- 105 g (1/2 cup) white sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 40 g (2 Tbsp) fresh pureed ginger (jarred puree ginger can be used!)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (still oven!).
- Sift together the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda and spices). Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, mix the wet ingredients using a fork (egg, molasses, vanilla and ginger). Set aside.
- Beat butter for 30 seconds, then add sugar and mix to combine.
- Stir the wet ingredients into the butter mixture until well combined.
- Stir in the dry ingredients until no visible flour remains in the dough. Be careful not to overmix. You will create a tough cookie, and nobody likes a tough cookie!
- Roll on a lightly floured surface to ½ cm (or ¼ inch) and cut out.
- Bake for 12 minutes on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Cookie edges should be firm, and the bottom should be light brown.
- Cool completely before decorating
- Make Royal Icing:
- Beat all ingredients together until icing forms peaks (3-5 minutes at medium-high speed with an electric or stand mixer).
- Let icing sit for 15 minutes to an hour to let air bubbles rise naturally. Alternately, tap the bowl on the table several times to force the air bubbles up.
- Gently stir the top surface to release the air. Add food colouring as desired and keep covered until ready to use.