Description
Delicious gingerbread cookies adorned with intricate winter forest designs, perfect for holiday festivities.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 1⁄4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3⁄4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1⁄4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1⁄4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
- 1⁄2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1⁄2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2⁄3 cup unsulfured molasses
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 2 large egg whites or 3 tablespoons meringue powder mixed with 6 tablespoons water
- 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
- Gel food coloring (green, white, brown, blue)
- Edible gold dust (optional)
- Fine sugar or edible glitter
- Small brush for detailing
- Piping bags and small piping tips
Instructions
- Mix the dry ingredients: whisk together the flour, baking soda, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt in a medium bowl.
- Cream the butter and sugar: in a large bowl, cream the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg, molasses, and vanilla; mix well.
- Combine the ingredients: gradually add the dry mixture to the wet, stirring until a dough forms.
- Chill the dough: wrap and chill for at least 1 hour in the fridge.
- Preheat the oven: to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment.
- Roll out the dough: on a floured surface, roll to 1⁄4-inch thickness and cut desired shapes.
- Bake the cookies: place on baking sheets and bake for 8-10 minutes.
- Cool on racks for a few minutes before transferring.
- Prepare the royal icing: beat egg whites (or meringue) until stiff, then add powdered sugar and vanilla.
- Color the icing: divide and add gel food coloring for desired shades.
- Pipe the royal icing onto cookies in winter forest designs.
- Add finishing touches: use gold dust and sprinkle fine sugar for a snowy effect.
- Let the icing dry completely before serving.
Notes
Use room-temperature butter for easier creaming and feel free to experiment with different shapes and colors.
- Prep Time: 60 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 100
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 140mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 10mg