Soft Gingerbread Cookies

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These simple and delicious soft gingerbread cookies are the best homemade holiday treat to enjoy. The perfect blend of sweet and spicy, this Christmas classic is baked from scratch with a dough made with sugar, molasses, butter, and spices. They’re then decorated with icing and sprinkles. Chewy and moist, you’ll love our soft gingerbread cookies recipe! 

For more Christmas cookie ideas, check out our pinwheels, cinnamon roll cookies, and Candy Cane Kiss cookies. Try our classic gingerbread cookie recipe, too!

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SEE ALSO: Carmelitas | Dr Pepper Brownies | Five Star Bars

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Soft Gingerbread Cookies

These old-fashioned homemade cookies are a favorite family recipe that grandma always bakes for the holidays. They’re perfect for decorating and sharing with Santa on Christmas Eve! 

You’ll love how quick the dough is to mix and they take only 10 minutes in the oven. You can also serve them warm without frosting if you’d like. 

Soft Gingerbread Cookies Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup molasses
• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 ¼ cups of flour
• 2 tablespoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon of cloves
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg

For the icing: 

• 2 tablespoon meringue powder
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• ½ cup water

RECIPE NOTES 

Be sure to use room temperature butter for the perfect, fluffy cookies.

Some people like to skip the decorating and mix in other goodies instead like chocolate chips. I’ve heard caramel or white chocolate chips are delicious additions, too. 

PRO TIP: The baking soda is what helps make this recipe so soft and chewy! If you omit the baking soda, the cookies will be crunchy and crisp. 

Decorating Ideas

You could use nonpareils, sprinkles, colored sugars, or Red Hots for these. 

How to Make Soft Gingerbread Cookies

STEP ONE: In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar. 

STEP TWO: Add molasses, vanilla, and eggs and mix on medium-low until well combined. The mixture will appear a little separated. 

STEP THREE: Stir in baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Gradually add the flour and mix until just combined.

STEP FOUR: Use a cookie scoop to spoon large balls of dough onto a cookie sheet. Press down on the dough to flatten it.

How Long to Bake Soft Gingerbread Cookies

STEP FIVE: Cook for 9-10 minutes at 375. Cool completely before frosting.

FOR THE ICING

To make the royal icing, in a clean bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add meringue powder and powdered sugar.

Slowly add the water ¼ cup at a time until you’ve reached a spreadable consistency. Turn on high for 10-20 seconds.

With a piping bag and Wilton #3 tip, you can decorate with your icing! 

PRO TIP: I didn’t want mine to be like a flood icing, I kept it a little thicker so I could pipe on my patterns and words.

Can You Freeze Gingerbread Dough? 

Yes! You can make this dough ahead of time and wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then store in a freezer-safe bag or airtight container until you’re ready for baking. 

Just pop the dough into the fridge overnight to thaw and then proceed with the baking instructions. 

How to Keep Gingerbread Cookies Soft 

These cookies will last for a week on the counter in an airtight container. 

If they start to get hard, you can place a piece of bread in the container with them and they will soften back up. 

PRO TIP: These cookies are so easy to make, they are the perfect edible Christmas gift idea. Just put into a cute box with some ribbon and you’re ready for gifting! 

CHRISTMAS TREATS: Christmas Crunch | Candy Cane Pie | Homemade Turtle Chocolates | Chocolate Chip Cookie Bowls |

BARKS & BRITTLES: Peanut Brittle | Peppermint Bark | Oreo Peppermint Bark | Chocolate Peanut Toffee |

These old-fashioned soft gingerbread cookies have been a family classic for years — I know you’ll love them, too! The made from scratch dough comes together quickly with sugar, butter, spices, flour, and molasses. After baking, these chewy cookies are decorated with homemade icing and sprinkles. They’re the perfect holiday treat to enjoy and share.