Name: Easy Homemade Gingerbread Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 1 h 40 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 1/3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour; 2 tsp ground ginger; 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1/4 tsp ground cloves; 1/4 tsp fine sea salt; 3/4 cup unsalted butter (room temperature); 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar; 1/2 cup unsulphured molasses (or dark molasses); 1 large egg (room temperature)

If you’re searching for a cozy, delightful treat that fills your home with the warm aroma of spices and molasses, then you’re in the right place. This Easy Homemade Gingerbread Cookies Recipe is my go-to for the holidays—and honestly, anytime I crave that perfect chewy, buttery bite with just the right zing of ginger and cinnamon. Stick around, because I’m about to share all my secrets so you can nail these charming cookies every single time.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Perfect Balance of Spices: The ginger, cinnamon, and cloves are blended just right to give a cozy yet vibrant flavor.
Soft, Chewy Texture: You won’t get dry or crumbly cookies here – these stay tender and chewy.
Easy to Make: No complicated techniques or fancy ingredients – just straightforward steps you’ll enjoy.
Fun for the Whole Family: These cookies are perfect for decorating, making holiday baking a fun activity everyone loves.

The image shows four gingerbread cookies on crumpled brown paper over a white marbled surface. The largest gingerbread cookie is in the center, shaped like a person with white icing outlining the body, two red round candies as buttons, two white dots for eyes, a curved white icing smile, and a green bow tie made of icing and a green candy. To the right, a smaller gingerbread man with white icing suspenders and shorts, two red round candy buttons, and a smiley face made with white icing. At the top right corner, part of another gingerbread cookie has white zigzag icing, while the top left shows a bigger cookie with white icing zigzag and borders. Scattered around are small candy decorations in green, red, and white shaped like snowflakes, Christmas trees, and candy canes. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Gingerbread Cookies, Easy Homemade Gingerbread Cookies, Holiday Cookie Recipe, Chewy Ginger Cookies, Spiced Gingerbread Treats

Ingredients You’ll Need

The ingredients for this Easy Homemade Gingerbread Cookies Recipe are pantry staples with a few special touches that really make these cookies sing. Using unbleached flour and good-quality molasses are key to getting that rich flavor and tender texture.

Flat lay of a small mound of unbleached all-purpose flour in a simple white ceramic bowl, a few rustic sticks of cinnamon arranged beside a small white bowl filled with golden molasses, a small white bowl of light brown sugar with a soft, fluffy texture, a smooth slab of unsalted butter at room temperature, a single large whole egg with a clean shell, a small white bowl containing fine ground ginger powder, a tiny white bowl of ground cloves, a small white bowl with fine sea salt, and a small white bowl holding baking soda, all ingredients fresh and natural, perfectly balanced and symmetrically arranged in a professional flat lay style, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p awthu7i m7354615311229779997 - Gingerbread Cookies, Easy Homemade Gingerbread Cookies, Holiday Cookie Recipe, Chewy Ginger Cookies, Spiced Gingerbread Treats

Unbleached all-purpose flour: Provides structure without the bitterness that bleached flour can sometimes add.
Ground ginger: The star of the show, giving those warm and spicy notes we all crave.
Ground cinnamon: Adds depth and sweetness to enhance the overall spice blend.
Baking soda: Helps the cookies rise perfectly without being cakey.
Ground cloves: Just a pinch adds a pungent warmth without overpowering the other spices.
Fine sea salt: Balances the sweetness and amplifies the spices.
Unsalted butter: Room temperature butter is key for creaming with sugar and achieving that tender crumb.
Light brown sugar: Provides moisture and a mild molasses flavor that pairs beautifully with the actual molasses.
Unsulphured molasses (or dark molasses): This is where the deep, rich gingerbread flavor comes from—don’t skip it!
Large egg: Adds structure and richness while helping everything bind together.

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

One of the things I love about this Easy Homemade Gingerbread Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to tweak. Whether you want vegan versions, a twist on the spice blend, or a gluten-free option, this base recipe adapts well—and your family will appreciate your creative spin.

Vegan Variation: Swap the butter for a plant-based margarine and the egg for a flax or chia egg—I’ve tried this and the cookies still come out soft and flavorful.
Extra Spicy: Add a dash of black pepper or increase the ginger for a spicier kick that wakes up your taste buds.
Gluten-Free Option: Use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend, and be sure to chill the dough a bit longer—it helps with rolling out.
Decorating Variations: Next time, try mixing in mini chocolate chips for a little surprise or topping with crushed candy canes for holiday flair.

How to Make Easy Homemade Gingerbread Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Mix Your Dry Spices and Flour

Start by sifting together the unbleached flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, cloves, and salt in a medium bowl. Sifting not only combines everything evenly, but it also helps prevent lumps and makes your cookie dough super smooth. I remember the first time I skipped sifting and got uneven spice bits in my cookies—I learned my lesson!

Step 2: Cream Butter, Sugar, and Molasses

In a separate large bowl, beat room temperature unsalted butter, light brown sugar, and molasses with an electric mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy. This usually takes 2 to 3 minutes. The lightness here is crucial—it makes cookies tender and helps with the chewiness. Then add the egg and beat again for about a minute until fully incorporated.

Step 3: Combine and Chill the Dough

Slowly add your flour and spice mixture to the wet ingredients and mix on low speed until just combined. The dough will be soft and moist—that’s perfect. Transfer it to a well-floured surface, divide it into three portions, flatten each into disks, and wrap them tightly in plastic wrap. Chill these disks for at least an hour (or up to 24 hours, if you want to prep ahead). Trust me, the chilling helps the dough firm up and makes rolling out so much easier.

Step 4: Roll Out and Cut Your Cookies

Once chilled, preheat your oven to 375°F. On a floured surface, roll out one disk of dough to about 1/4 inch thickness, dusting your rolling pin and surface as you go so the dough doesn’t stick. Use a 4- to 5-inch cookie cutter to cut shapes—gingerbread people are my favorite! Place them about an inch apart on a lined baking sheet. Pro tip: gather scraps, chill briefly, and re-roll for more cookies without toughening the dough.

Step 5: Bake to Perfection

Bake your cookies for about 9 to 10 minutes, just until the edges start to turn a light golden brown. Here’s what I’ve learned—don’t overbake if you want soft, chewy cookies. They’ll firm up as they cool on a wire rack. Repeat with the remaining dough. Once completely cool, store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.

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Pro Tips for Making Easy Homemade Gingerbread Cookies Recipe

Chill Your Dough Thoroughly: This prevents sticking and helps the cookies keep their shape during baking.
Don’t Overmix the Dough: Once the flour is in, mix just enough to combine; overmixing can toughen cookies.
Use Fresh Spices: This elevates the flavor big time—old spices lose their punch.
Test Bake a Cookie First: Baking one test cookie helps you gauge timing and avoid overbaking the whole batch.

How to Serve Easy Homemade Gingerbread Cookies Recipe

The image shows a group of gingerbread cookies on crinkled light brown paper placed on a white marbled surface. The main cookie in the center is a gingerbread person with a smiling face made of two small white dots for eyes and a curved white line for the mouth. It has three green round candy buttons on its torso. White icing decorates the edges of the arms and legs with zigzag lines and outlines the entire body. Surrounding it are other gingerbread cookies with white icing details and red and green small candy pieces scattered around. The lighting is warm, highlighting the texture of the cookies clearly. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Gingerbread Cookies, Easy Homemade Gingerbread Cookies, Holiday Cookie Recipe, Chewy Ginger Cookies, Spiced Gingerbread Treats

Garnishes

I love decorating these gingerbread cookies with royal icing—it’s easy to pipe, dries hard, and lets you get creative. Sprinkles and edible glitter add that festive touch kids and adults both go crazy for. Sometimes I keep it simple with a light dusting of powdered sugar; it’s cozy and understated.

Side Dishes

These cookies are fantastic alongside a hot cup of spiced tea, mulled cider, or rich hot chocolate. I often serve them with whipped cream or a little bowl of cream cheese frosting for dunking—it’s indulgence at its best.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday gatherings, I like to arrange these cookies on a festive serving tray lined with parchment paper and some fresh pine sprigs. Wrapping small stacks in cellophane tied with seasonal ribbon makes the perfect homemade gift—that always scores points with friends and neighbors!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover gingerbread cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, placing a slice of bread inside to keep them soft longer—this trick really works! They stay fresh and chewy for about a week, which means you can enjoy them for days without any fuss.

Freezing

If you want to make these ahead, the dough freezes wonderfully. I usually shape it into disks, wrap tightly in plastic, and toss them in a freezer bag. When you’re ready, thaw overnight in the fridge and roll out as usual. Baked cookies also freeze well if wrapped properly—just thaw at room temperature before serving.

Reheating

To bring back that fresh-baked warmth, pop cookies in a preheated oven at 300°F for 5 minutes. This revives the aroma and gives a slight crisp on the edges without drying them out. I never microwave gingerbread because it makes them rubbery!

FAQs

Can I use regular molasses instead of unsulphured molasses for this recipe?

Yes, you can, but unsulphured molasses is preferred for its clean, robust flavor without the bitter aftertaste that sulphured molasses sometimes has. Using unsulphured ensures your gingerbread cookies taste rich and smooth.
How do I prevent my gingerbread cookies from spreading too much?

Chilling the dough thoroughly before rolling and cutting is the best way to prevent spreading. Also, avoid using too much butter or molasses. Baking at the correct temperature (375°F) helps cookies hold their shape.
Can I make these cookies without an electric mixer?

Absolutely! You can cream the butter, sugar, and molasses by hand using a sturdy wooden spoon. It takes a bit more elbow grease, but it’s entirely doable. Just make sure the butter is softened well to make mixing easier.
What’s the best way to decorate gingerbread cookies?

Royal icing is my top pick because it hardens beautifully, allowing you to stack or gift the cookies without smudging. You can also use store-bought icing for convenience or even melted chocolate for a different twist.
How long do these gingerbread cookies last?

Stored properly in an airtight container, these cookies stay fresh for up to one week at room temperature and up to three months in the freezer.

Final Thoughts

This Easy Homemade Gingerbread Cookies Recipe has become a cherished part of my holiday traditions, and I bet you’ll feel the same once you try it. There’s nothing like pulling warm cookies out of the oven, decorating them with loved ones, and savoring every bite with a hot drink nearby. Go ahead and give these cookies a try—it’s easier than you think, and the joy they bring is totally worth every step. Happy baking!