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
Jess says
The recipe was easy to follow. The cookies look great but I found them to be quite sweet.
Meredith says
Thanks for trying them! You can always use less sugar next time. Sweetness level is always subjective 🙂
Caitlin says
This recipe was absolutely perfect! Perfect flavor and texture! Definitely a keeper! Thank you!
Meredith says
Yay! Glad you liked it, Caitlin! 🙂
Lynette says
Yay! It’s one of our favorites as well.
Connie C. says
Lovely recipe! We have some dietary restrictions in my family and I’ve been on the hunt for healthier yet yummy Christmas cookie ideas–so the no-butter aspect really appealed to me with this one. I did two tweaks with my batch: 1/ Instead of all canola oil, I used 50% canola and 50% good-quality olive oil with a mild flavor to increase omega3 content and 2/ I wanted a nice spicy flavor so I added an extra tsp of cinnamon and ginger plus an extra 1/2 tsp of cloves. (I also just formed the dough into logs and sliced cookies instead of using cookie cutters but just because I was running out of time.) I took the cookies out of the oven just as they started to crackle and added just a dusting of icing sugar when they cooled. The texture was just so good and the flavors came together nicely…will definitely bake these again.
Deanna says
Fellow pastor’s wife here! I tried these wondering how they would turn out with the canola oil. They are perfect!
The dough was really nice to work with after being in the fridge overnight. It’s going in my permanent Christmas notebook for regular use! Thank you.
Sara Tropper says
Scrumptious!
Caitlin says
Hi there ! They look delicious, can they be frozen once baked? I want to store them in the freezer for couple weeks so that going to be ok? Thank you!
Meredith says
Hi Caitlin!
They sure can! If you’re going to frost or dust them with powdered sugar, I recommend freezing them naked and letting them come to room temperature before decorating. Enjoy!
Robin says
I discovered your recipe 2 years ago- delicious!!
Meredith says
So glad you enjoy the recipe, Robin! 🙂
Lori says
These are delicious and relatively healthy…I love that no butter is needed
These are now my go to Gingerbread cookies!
Meredith says
Thank you for the feedback, Lori! So glad you like the recipe 🙂
Sofia says
What do you mean by “cracked”?
Meredith Edwards says
Hi Sofia!
Basically, when the dough is cooked through, you will see tiny cracks on top of the cookie.
Sara says
Can the dough be frozen to use later?
Meredith says
Hi Sara!
I have never frozen the dough, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work like any other dough. Make sure to thaw it out well before rolling 🙂