You are going to love this gingerbread cookies recipe because it makes a really soft cookie! It’s packed with flavor from the cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. And I really like how dense the cookie is – no icing needed. (Unless you want to.)
Table of Contents
Why I Love These Cookies
When I think of gingerbread cookies I think of a cookie that is rich in spices like ginger snaps. And honestly, in the past, I’ve felt like many gingerbread men have too strong of a flavor. So when I created this recipe by merging my favorite sugar cookie cut-outs with an all-time favorite molasses cake – I found the best gingerbread cookie recipe!
- This gingerbread cookies recipe does not produce your typical snappy crunch gingerbread that makes for sturdy walls in a decorated house. Instead, they are slightly crunchy on the outside and soft and moist on the inside – just as I prefer a cookie to be. (They are as delicious as these old fashioned chewy molasses cookies.)
- The spice is there, but not overpowering. My kids love them! They are also not overly sweet, so the icing would pair nicely.
- The most unique thing about these cookies? Absolutely no butter or shortening needed. The secret is in the unique blending of canola oil and blackstrap molasses.
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Ingredients
These cookies are rather simple with only 10 ingredients. Most of the ingredients you probably have on hand. There are a few unique additions that are key to this recipe.
- Blackstrap Molasses – Blackstrap has a stronger flavor than regular un-sulfured molasses. No shortcuts here, get the blackstrap molasses.
- Dark Brown Sugar – Make sure to use this type of brown sugar as it has more moisture because of the additional molasses. It also has a bit of a caramel flavor which adds to the cookies.
- Canola Oil – Similar to vegetable oil, I prefer using canola because it’s lower in saturated fat and blends well with the sugar.
How to Make The Best Gingerbread Cookies (VIDEO)
Step by Step Tutorial
- Mix together the oil, brown sugar, and molasses. The consistency will be like shiny wet sugar. Mix in your eggs one at a time. The batter will start to become smooth.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cloves, baking soda, and salt. Add this flour mixer to the batter and stir well.
- The dough will be very sticky. Place on a heavily floured surface and knead with your hands. Add more flour a little at a time until it is no longer sticky.
- Refrigerate the dough in plastic wrap for at least 3 hours or overnight.
5. When ready, roll the cold dough 1/4 inch thick on a floured surface and cut out your gingerbread men. Place the men on a lightly greased cookie sheet.
6. Bake the men in a preheated 350˚ oven for 8 minutes or until they are puffed up and showing tiny cracks at the surface. Allow them to cool for a few minutes before removing them to a cooling rack.
How to Decorate
These cookies are delicious right out of the oven! However, if you have something fancier in mind to pair with your other Christmas cookies, here are my two suggestions.
- Powdered Sugar – I like to sprinkle mine with a little powdered sugar while they are still warm.
- Vanilla Icing – Spread or decorate using icing.
Recipe Notes
Using blackstrap gives a more robust flavor to the cookies. Because it is more concentrated we suggest using it for this recipe to bring out the bold flavors.
If your dough is not fully chilled, it can alter your finished product. For this recipe we recommend chilling at least 3 hours, but overnight is best.
The cookies need to be cool before adding any icing. If it’s added when the cookie is warm the icing will melt and you won’t have those nice tight white lines on your gingerbread men
More Cookies for Christmas
- How To Make The Best Sugar Cookie : Easy Sugar Cookies Recipe
- Lemon Tea Cookie Recipe
- Grandma’s Brickle Cookies
- Honey Cut-Out Cookies with Honey Icing
- Peanut Butter No Bake Oatmeal Cookies
The Best Gingerbread Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
For Cookies
- 2/3 cup canola oil
- 1/4 cup blackstrap molasses
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Whisk together the flour, spices, soda and salt. Set aside.
- Using a mixer, mix the oil, molasses and brown sugar together. Then, using the same wet bowl, mix in the eggs, one at a time.
- Next, slowly stir in your bowl of the flour mixture into the mixer bowl of wet ingredients. Add one cup at a time to make it easy for you.
- The dough will still be quite sticky. Place the dough onto a heavily floured surface and with floured hands, work in more flour with your hands until the dough is no longer sticky.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours but it’s best to leave in refrigerator overnight.
- Preheat oven to 350˚ F. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough 1/4 inch thick and cut out! Bake for 8 minutes on ungreased cookie sheets until just starting to crack. Let cool for 2 minutes before removing from cookie sheet.
Comments & Reviews
kathleen says
Hi, these look fabulous! Was wondering if they could be used as ornaments for a tree. Will they hold up if they don’t get eaten?
Meredith says
lol – well, I supposed you could leave them out on the counter for a few days and they could harden enough for the tree? Never tried that! Although I think the cookies made specifically for decoration have lots of cinnamon and also contain glue. http://www.wholefully.com has a popular recipe if you want to give it a try!
Tammy says
These really are awesome! I’ve now referred your recipe to 2 of my friends. Everyone loves them!!
Ashley says
Sounds delicious ❤️ Great idea
Lynette says
They are the very best in terms of flavor and texture. Enjoy!
Paula says
Hi. Making this recipe now. Is the brown sugar packed?
Thanks
Meredith says
Hi Paula!
Yes, the brown sugar is packed.
Laila says
What kind of icing would you use on these cookies? Just a royal icing?
Meredith says
Hi Laila!
I prefer more of an icing glaze that hardens up, but if they don’t need to be stored on top of each other, a rich buttercream frosting would be good too!
Cindy says
Thanks!
Cindy says
Hi! What size cookie cutter did you use? I just need to make sure I have enough for a church function! Thanks!
meredith says
Great question Cindy!
My cutter had a 3 1/2 inch height and a 2 3/4 inch width. Enjoy!
ashley b svenson says
Can you make the cookies in advance and freeze?
Meredith says
Hey Ashley!
Absolutely. These cookies freeze great in an air tight container. Enjoy!
Marj says
Made these before christmas and its the perfect recipe!! My kids loved them! And so did my husband. Which is amazing.
I had made a double batch of this recipe but ended up not using the second batch before Christmas. And today I finally thought of that dough still sitting in fridge! (Kids may or may not have been bugging me for a while about it lol) But it’s very crumbly 🙁 can it be saved? When I roll it out it has lots of cracks and doesn’t stay together. Help?
Meredith says
Hi Marj!
I had to laugh when I read your comment. I have done that very thing before! Not sure if the dough is salvageable, but here is what I suggest… Bring the dough up to room temperature before rolling. Even with cracks, the dough should bake ok…If can’t pull it together enough to roll, try adding a bit more oil and massage it in with your hands. Then bake. Worth a try! 😉
Miriam says
I am interested in trying this recipe out soon. I was wondering if I can substitute a ‘gingerbread spice’ instead of the ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. If I can, what measurement do I use?
Meredith says
Hi Miriam!
I have never substituted with an all inclusive spice before, but I would add the total measurement for the ginger, cinnamon and cloves combined. That would be 5 teaspoons of your gingerbread spice. Let us know how it goes! Thanks for trying one of our recipes 🙂