Gingerbread Cookies with Royal Icing
Gingerbread cookies are a classic holiday treat, flavored with warm spices like ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, and decorated with sweet royal icing. Perfect for Christmas or any festive occasion, these cookies are easy to make and great for decorating with kids or as a gift.
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Electric mixer (optional)
- Rolling Pin
- Cookie cutters
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Cooling rack
- Piping bags (for royal icing)
Ingredients
- For the Gingerbread Cookies:
- 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter softened
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup unsulfured molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- For the Royal Icing:
- 1 egg white or 1 tablespoon meringue powder
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar sifted
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice optional
- 1-2 teaspoons water to adjust consistency
Instructions
- Make the Gingerbread Dough:
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. In a separate bowl, beat the softened butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add the egg, molasses, and vanilla extract, mixing well. Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix until a dough forms.
- Chill the Dough:
- Divide the dough into two halves and wrap each in plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or until firm enough to roll out.
- Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Roll Out the Dough:
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion of the dough to about ¼ inch thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out your desired shapes (gingerbread men, stars, etc.).
- Bake the Cookies:
- Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are slightly firm. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Make the Royal Icing:
- In a bowl, whisk together the egg white (or meringue powder), powdered sugar, and lemon juice (if using). Add water, a teaspoon at a time, until the icing reaches a smooth, pipeable consistency.
- Decorate the Cookies:
- Transfer the royal icing into a piping bag and decorate your cooled cookies with fun designs! You can also use sprinkles, edible glitter, or other decorations.
- Let the Icing Set:
- Allow the royal icing to harden for about 1-2 hours before serving or packaging the cookies.
Notes
For a more flavorful icing, you can add a few drops of vanilla extract to the royal icing.
If you don’t have meringue powder, you can use pasteurized egg whites for safety.
Ensure the cookies are fully cooled before decorating to prevent the icing from melting.