Recipe Adapted From: Gingerbread Men – Ladies Home Journal Favorite Christmas Cookies
It’s April, and here I am about to talk about one of the most iconic Christmas holiday recipes. Sometimes life just gets in the way and everything you have planned to post last December has gotten pushed back for one reason or another. Starting a new medication, a shift in priorities at work, anything can throw you off.
In any case, the holidays will come around again and this recipe will be waiting and ready for you to have the most amazing gingerbread cookies.
Yes, These Cookies Are Award-Winning
A couple years ago, I decided to enter a holiday cookie baking competition at my job with this recipe, and they came in 1st place!
So yes, they are award-winning in my book, and even if they weren’t, they are still delicious. Everyone who has tried these cookies has loved them.
About this Gingerbread Recipe
I have been making these gingerbread cookies every year for Christmas since I moved in with my husband back in 2012. They have been a favorite of his since he was a kid and he looks forward to me making them every holiday season.
Like everything we do here at Helping Hands Kitchen, we put our own spin on recipes. This recipe originally calls for pre-made cookie icing that you can purchase in any grocery store. However, for these cookies I think it’s worth going a little bit extra, so I make a homemade cream cheese frosting to pair with them.
The texture of these cookies is super soft so these are great for snacking, but maybe not-so-good for making gingerbread houses.
With all this being said, are you ready for the best gingerbread cookies of your life? At least in my biased opinion.
If so, let’s get baking!
Ingredients
For the Gingerbread
- ¼ cup boiling water
- ½ cup shortening
- 1 egg
- ½ cup firmly packed brown sugar
- ½ cup unsulphured molasses
- 3 cups all purpose flour (plus extra for rolling cookie dough)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ ground cloves
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened)
- 2 cups powdered sugar (sifted)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Kitchen Tools
- Stand or hand mixer
- Large and medium sized mixing bowls
- 2 Large Baking Sheets
- Cookie Cutters
- Rolling Pin
Cookie Instructions
Step 1
In a large mixer bowl, pour boiling water over shortening. With mixer at medium speed, beat until well mixed.
Step 2
Add egg, brown sugar, and molasses and beat until well blended.
Step 3
In medium bowl, combine remaining ingredients, except for the icing. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the molasses mixture and beat just until blended.
Step 4
Wrap and chill the dough for at least 2 hours.
Step 5
Preheat the oven to 375℉. Grease baking sheets (skip this if your baking sheets are non-stick).
Step 6
Sprinkle flour over your countertop or work surface. Roll the chilled dough out into about ⅛ to ¼ inch thick. Cut out dough with cookie cutters. With a spatula, carefully transfer each cutout to the baking sheets, placing each about 1 inch apart.
Step 7
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until cookie springs back when lightly pressed. Cool on a wire rack. Wait until cookies are fully cooled before adding frosting.
Frosting Instructions
Step 8
While the cookies are cooling, add in the butter and cream cheese to a large bowl and use your mixer to cream until smooth. Add in the vanilla and mix to combine. Slowly add in the powdered sugar until smooth.
Step 9
Time to decorate!
Let your inner artist take over and decorate the cookies however you wish.