Description
Deliciously spiced gingerbread cookies with a delightful crunch and chewy center, perfect for festive gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 cup (112g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 6 tbsp vegetable shortening
- 3/4 cup (150g) dark brown sugar, packed
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 large egg
- 3/4 cup (250g) unsulphured molasses (preferably Grandma’s)
- 1 tbsp ground ginger
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
- 1/4 tsp ground clove
- 3 1/2 cups (450g) all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
- 1 1/2 cups (165g) powdered sugar
- 6–8 tsp water
- 1 tsp corn syrup
- Gel food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, beat the unsalted butter, vegetable shortening, and dark brown sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and creamy, about 1 minute.
- Scrape down the bowl, add vanilla extract and egg, mixing until smooth. Then, mix in molasses until the dough has a rich, glossy texture.
- Add in ground ginger, cinnamon, kosher salt, baking soda, cream of tartar, and ground clove. Combine until evenly distributed.
- Gradually fold in the all-purpose flour with a strong spatula. The dough will be thick and sticky—this is what gives them their signature chewiness!
- Turn the dough onto a floured piece of plastic wrap. Shape it into a 1-inch thick rectangle, wrap it tightly, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the dough and cut in half, keeping one half in the fridge. Roll the other half on a floured surface to 1/4 inch thick, and cut shapes with cookie cutters.
- Transfer cut cookies to parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until puffed with cracked surfaces, and slightly underdone in the center.
- Let cookies rest for 1-2 minutes on the baking sheet before moving to wire racks to cool.
- For icing, combine powdered sugar, 6 teaspoons of water, and corn syrup in a bowl until slightly glue-like. Use additional water to reach desired consistency, adding gel food coloring if wanted.
- Once cookies are completely cooled, decorate with icing as desired. Allow the icing to set before serving.
Notes
Chilling the dough improves texture and shape. Adjusting spice levels can customize flavor.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 145
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 110mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 30mg