Classic soft gingerbread cookies are an old-fashioned holiday staple baked from scratch.
Prep Time10 minutesmins
Cook Time10 minutesmins
Total Time20 minutesmins
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Soft Gingerbread Cookies Recipe
Servings: 16
Calories: 233kcal
Ingredients
Cookies
1cupbutter
¾cupbrown sugar
¼cupmolasses
1tablespoonvanilla
2eggs
½teaspoonbaking soda
½teaspoonsalt
2tablespoonsground ginger
1teaspooncinnamon
¼teaspooncloves
¼teaspoonnutmeg
2¼cupsall-purpose flour
Icing
2tablespoonsmeringue powder
4cupspowdered sugar
½cupwater
Instructions
In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar.
Add molasses, vanilla, and eggs; mix on medium-low until well combined, the mixture will appear a little separated.
Stir in the baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
Gradually add flour; mix until just combined.
Use a cookie scoop to spoon large balls of dough onto the cookie sheet. Press down on the dough to flatten.
Bake for 9 to 10 minutes at 375°F.
Cool completely before frosting.
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 mixer on high for 10 to 20 seconds.
With a piping bag and Wilton #3 tip, you can decorate with your icing!
Notes
Be sure to use room temperature butter for the perfect, fluffy cookies.
The baking soda is what helps make this recipe so soft and chewy! If you omit the baking soda, you will end up with a crunchy and crisp gingerbread cookie.
Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to check your cookies at the lower end of the recommended baking time.
I didn’t want my icing to be like flood icing, I kept it a little thicker so I could pipe on my patterns and words. If you prefer a thinner consistency, add a bit more water.