As the holiday season is upon us, there’s nothing quite as delightful as treating your loved ones to a tasteful selection of treats to please their taste buds. A timeless treat that would never stop being a favourite to many is the gingerbread cookie, always adding a touch of sweetness to the festive moments, and we are more than happy to guide you through the steps to preparing mouth-watering gingerbread cookies to keep the sweetness of the season going in your home.

glass of milk against a dark background

First, we must get a list of all ingredients needed for your cookies.

Ingredients:
• 3 cups flour.
• 1 & 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger.
• 1 & 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves.
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda.
• 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened.
• 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed.
• 1/2 cup molasses.
• 1 large egg.
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
• Icing and decorations as desired.

Do keep in mind that the quantities would be different if the number of guests you have in mind is more.

Directions:
Prepare The Dry Ingredients
Whisk together the all-purpose flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, and salt in a medium-sized bowl. This aromatic blend will form the base of your gingerbread cookies.

Cream Together Butter and Sugar
In a separate large mixing bowl, cream the softened unsalted butter and packed brown sugar until light and fluffy. This step is essential for achieving that perfect melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Add Molasses, Egg, and Vanilla Extract
Incorporate the rich flavours of the season by adding molasses, a large egg, and vanilla extract to the butter-sugar mixture. Blend the ingredients until well combined.

Gradually Add Dry Ingredients
Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, ensuring a thorough incorporation. This step ensures a consistent and flavourful dough.

Chill the Dough
Divide the gingerbread cookie dough into two discs, wrap them in plastic, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. Chilled dough is easier to handle and results in cookies with better shapes.

Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper, ensuring your gingerbread cookies won’t stick during baking.

Roll and Cut Shapes
Roll out the chilled dough to your desired thickness on a floured surface. Use festive cookie cutters to create shapes that capture the holiday spirit. Place the cutouts on the prepared baking sheets.

Bake to Perfection
Bake the gingerbread cookies in the oven for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are set. Keep a close eye to avoid over-baking, as gingerbread cookies are best when they maintain a soft and chewy texture.

Cool Before Decorating
Allow the gingerbread cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This step is crucial for decorating, as warm cookies can cause icing to melt.

Get Creative with Decorations
Once the cookies are completely cooled, unleash your creativity with icing and decorations. Let your imagination run wild as you bring your gingerbread cookies to life, whether it’s classic white icing, festive colours, or edible glitter.

With these simple steps, you will have created one of the tastiest cookies ever known to humanity, so feel free to share, not just to family and friends but also to the less privileged. Sharing is caring, after all, so do well to show some love to everyone this season and beyond.

Merry Christmas!!!

Johnson Chukwueke
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Johnson Chukwueke is a content and creative writer with over 3 years of experience as a professional. A microbiology graduate from the Imo State University, Johnson is a music enthusiast who also enjoys movies, reading, and swimming. He is a writer at THEWILL DOWNTOWN.