Description
Gingerbread House Cookies are essentially ginger-flavored cookies that are cut into shapes for building and decorating a gingerbread house. The dough is a blend of spices such as cinnamon, ginger, and cloves, mixed with molasses and brown sugar to create a rich, flavorful base. These cookies are typically firm and sturdy, making them ideal for assembling into a gingerbread house structure. The beauty of these cookies lies not just in their flavor but in the opportunity for decoration, with royal icing acting as both a glue and a canvas for colorful embellishments.
Ingredients
Ingredients
For the Gingerbread Cookies:
- 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tbsp ground ginger
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Royal Icing (for decorating):
- 3 egg whites (or 4 tbsp meringue powder mixed with 6 tbsp water)
- 4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
- Food coloring (optional)
Instructions
1. Make the Gingerbread Cookies:
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Add the molasses, egg, and vanilla extract to the butter mixture. Mix until well combined.
- Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms.
- Chill the Dough: Divide the dough into two portions, flatten into disks, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
2. Roll and Cut the Cookies:
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Roll Out Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of dough to about 1/4 inch thick.
- Cut Shapes: Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes for your gingerbread house (sides, roof, etc.). Place the cutouts on parchment-lined baking sheets.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are firm. Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack.
3. Prepare the Royal Icing:
- Beat Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar until frothy. Gradually add the powdered sugar and beat until the icing is thick and holds stiff peaks.
- Color the Icing: If desired, divide the icing into bowls and tint with food coloring for decorating.
4. Assemble and Decorate:
- Decorate Cookies: Use the royal icing to decorate the cooled gingerbread cookies. You can use it to glue pieces together to form your gingerbread house.
- Let Icing Dry: Allow the decorated cookies to dry completely before handling or stacking.
5. Display and Enjoy:
- Showcase Your Creation: Once dry, display your gingerbread house cookies as a festive centerpiece or enjoy them with family and friends!
Notes
Get creative with your decorations—use royal icing, colorful candies, or edible glitter for a festive touch. These cookies also make charming edible gifts or fun holiday table centerpieces.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Cookie
- Calories: 180kcal
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 140mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: Gingerbread House Cookies Recipe