It’s time to break out the ginger, cinnamon and cloves, and learn how to make gingerbread cookies! You’ll want to master two types of gingerbread. The first is an ultra-soft and chewy treat, a staple on Christmas cookie trays. The second is a crisp version, perfect for fashioning a fairytale gingerbread house.
Can’t get enough gingerbread? Check out our complete guide for gingerbread cookies, houses, cakes and more.
Soft Gingerbread vs. Hard Gingerbread
The defining factor that separates the deliciously soft gingery cookie from the more sturdy versions is the use of a leavening agent. Leavens like yeast, baking soda and baking powder release carbon dioxide into your dough, making it lighter and giving baked goods a pleasantly chewy texture. Love gingerbread in all its forms? Get our complete gingerbread baking and decorating guide.
How to Make Gingerbread Cookies
The Soft Kind
Taste of Home
The best way to make soft and chewy gingerbread is our recipe for Big Soft Ginger Cookies.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Additional sugar
Instructions
Step 1: Hand mixers at the ready
Put the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl and cream together until it takes on a light, fluffy texture. In a separate bowl, combine flour, ground ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Set off to the side.
Step 2: Just beat it
Beat the egg and molasses into the butter and sugar. Add the flour mixture to the wet mix in small increments until the dough is thoroughly combined.
Step 3: Roll and bake
Preheat your oven to 350°. Roll the dough into small 1-1/2-in. balls and place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for about 10-12 minutes or until the cookies are lightly browned.
The Sturdy Kind
Taste of Home
Use our recipe for Gingerbread Cutout Cookies to make gingerbread for a sturdy house.
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 3/4 cup molasses
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
Step 1: Making the dough
In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and molasses. Combine the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate until easy to handle, about 4 hours or overnight.
Step 2: Break out the cookie cutters
Preheat oven to 350°. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4-in. thickness. For a house, set your template (download a PDF here) on the dough and cut out using a sharp knife. For cookies, use a shaped cookie cutter. Place the pieces on ungreased baking sheets.
Step 3: Bake and decorate!
Bake until edges are firm, 8-10 minutes for smaller pieces and 12-15 minutes for larger pieces. Remove to wire racks to cool. Then you can assemble and decorate your gingerbread house, cabin, man or woman.
Building a gingerbread house and baking whimsical gingerbread cookies are cherished Christmas traditions. It’s a wonderful opportunity to flex your creative muscles and also makes a terrific activity for kids and adults. Now that you know the how-to, here’s a little inspo for your next gingerbread masterpiece.
Find More Tasty Gingerbread Recipes
Gingerbread Men Cookies
No
holiday treat platter would be complete without
gingerbread cookies! This is a tried-and-true recipe. —Mitzi Sentiff, Annapolis, Maryland
You can also check out some
gingerbread house ideas for an enticing finished product.
Go to Recipe
Easy Gingerbread CutoutsI rely on this tried-and-true recipe during the holidays. The
cream cheese frosting complements the cookies' gingery flavor and sets up nicely for easy packaging and stacking. —Sandy McKenzie, Braham, Minnesota
Vegan Gingerbread CookiesI created these gingerbread cookies with my niece and they just happen to be vegan! They're just right for sharing with all your friends.—Jenet Cattar, Neptune Beach, Florida
Gingerbread House CookiesThis is my favorite molasses cookie. I use the recipe not only to create little houses for Christmas; it's just as fun as
making a gingerbread house (and easier to eat). —Karen Haen, Sturgeon Bay, WI
Gingerbread Cookie CutoutsGet creative when
decorating gingerbread cookies. With a single cookie cutter, you can turn your gingerbread man into Santa, Buddy the Elf or even a yeti! —Christy Thelen, Kellogg, Iowa
Ugly Sweater CookiesPerhaps the most amazing thing about Ugly Sweater Cookies is how cute they are. Try these classic gingerbreads on for size. —Christy Thelen, Kellogg, Iowa
Frozen Snowflake Gingerbread CookiesThese snowflake cookies will melt in your mouth as soon as they hit your tongue. Experiment with your favorite colors and give your cookie trays an unexpected twist. And don't forget to follow our
tips for cutout cookies. —
Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Gingerbread Cutout CookiesOur two boys linger around the kitchen when these homemade gingerbread cookies are baking. I make this gingerbread cookie recipe throughout the year using a variety of cookie cutters. —Christy Thelan, Kellogg, Iowa
Gingerbread Christmas Cards'Tis the season for mailing out Christmas cards and gift packages stuffed with homemade cookies. Why not save time and combine the two? Royal icing is the perfect backdrop for you to customize a delicious, heartfelt holiday greeting. —
Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Drizzled Gingerbread BiscottiAfter stumbling across a community recipe for gingerbread biscotti, I made several batches and tweaked it to our tastes. These became an instant obsession at our house.—Susan Board, Palmer, Alaska
Gingerbread BuddiesThese cookies were ideal for a winter get-together I hosted. I like to share these crunchy treats on the way home from cutting our fresh Christmas tree.—Shelly Rynearson, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
Gingerbread SpritzI get so busy during the Christmas season that cutout cookies are a hassle. But I love gingerbread and spritz cookies so I combined my favorite recipes and was pleased at the results.—Sherry Gazelka, Iron, Minnesota
Citrus Gingerbread CookiesOrange and lemon zest give gingerbread cutouts a refreshing twist. Brushing a honey glaze over the top adds a subtle shine and an extra touch of sweetness. —Monique Hooker, DeSoto, Wisconsin
Easy Chocolate Gingerbread CutoutsI have many wonderful memories making these chocolaty cookies with my family during the Christmas season. —Debbie Rowe, Lexington, Kentucky
Gingerbread Teddy BearsThese cookies have been a Christmas tradition in my family since I was a little girl. The big bears are so soft and chewy that we can hardly wait until they come out of the oven!—Elizabeth Manzanares, Gloucester, Virginia
Butterscotch Gingerbread CookiesEvery time I make these wonderful cookies, the spicy aroma takes me back to my childhood. I helped Mom make them and delivered them to neighbors. —Kara Cook, Elk Ridge, Utah
Gingerbread Sandwich TreesFun and festive, these cookie sandwich trees will be a huge hit with kids of all ages. They're a super-cute holiday treat! —Steve Foy, Kirkwood, Missouri
Gingerbread Cookies with Buttercream IcingWhen it’s time to start the cookie-baking season, this recipe always kicks off the festivities. My mother-in-law first shared it with me, but it’s too good to keep to myself! You can tint the buttery gingerbread cookie icing a cheery pink or green and pipe it on with a decorating tip. —Ann Scherzer, Anacortes, Washington
Gingerbread Snow GlobeI make a big batch of these gingerbread cookies every Christmas to give to co-workers and family. For a festive decoration, arrange cutouts in a large clear jar to look like a snow globe. —Kelly Kirby, Mill Bay, British Columbia
Cream Cheese Frosted Gingerbread MenEvery Christmas, my family would visit a display of the most amazing gingerbread houses. Of course, we’d get to munch on gingerbread cookies along the way! I created my recipe with fresh grated ginger and cream cheese icing—it's the perfect mix of sweet and spicy. —Rebekah Jackson, San Jose, California
Updated: Dec. 05, 2022
