Gingerbread Cookies with Lemon Frosting

Total Time

Prep: 25 min. Bake: 10 min./batch + cooling

Makes

4 dozen

Updated: Nov. 13, 2022
When I spread these spicy gingerbread rounds with my lemony cream cheese frosting, I knew I had a hit. Cardamom and allspice add a hint of chai tea flavor. —Aysha Schurman, Ammon, Idaho
Gingerbread Cookies with Lemon Frosting Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • FROSTING:
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 2-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. Cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in eggs and molasses. In another bowl, whisk the next 8 ingredients; gradually beat into creamed mixture.
  2. Shape into 1-in. balls; place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake until tops are cracked, 8-10 minutes. Cool 2 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
  3. For frosting, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add remaining ingredients; beat until smooth. Frost cookies. Refrigerate in an airtight container.

Nutrition Facts

1 cookie with 1 teaspoon frosting: 100 calories, 3g fat (2g saturated fat), 15mg cholesterol, 105mg sodium, 17g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.