Whether you’re getting together with friends and family over the holidays or celebrating a cozy Christmas at home, these festive gingerbread cutout cookies are easy to make with kids. Plus, they’re tasty, too. This rich gingerbread recipe makes soft cut-out cookies that are perfect for the holidays. Kids love to decorate gingerbread “people” and use frosting and other edible bits to personalize their creations.
Scroll down and find a gingerbread house pattern courtesy of the Norway House. If you have your act together, you can enter your house in this year’s Gingerbread Wonderland exhibit.
If you are having one of those years where you just don’t want to make a mess at home, we’ve made a list of the best places to Make Christmas Cookies in the Twin Cities. Enjoy your baking time together , then bring home the cookies but leave the mess behind!
Holiday Gingerbread Cookie Recipe
A perfect seasonal flavor for the cookie exchange or fun to decorate with kids.
- ¾ cup softened butter
- 1 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp ground ginger (if you enjoy a little more spice use a full tablespoon ground ginger)
- 1½ tsp baking soda
- 1½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¾ tsp ground cloves
- ¼ tsp salt
- Combine flour, two teaspoons ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt and set aside.
- In another large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy then mix in the molasses and egg.
- Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Mix all ingredients well.
- Cover and refrigerate the cookie dough for about 4 hours or overnight for best results.
- Heat oven to 350. Flour your surface lightly, then roll out dough with a rolling pin to desired thickness. Cut with your choice of cookie cutters and place 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
- Bake until edges are firm, but be careful not to overbake (approx. 8-10 minutes).
- Remove cookies from baking sheets and cool on wire racks before decorating!
“Run, Run as fast you can.
You can’t catch me, I’m the gingerbread man.”
Where We Buy Our Toppings
Want something extra special? Hit up Lynn’s Cake and Candy Supplies in Fridley for darling edible decorations made with royal icing, sprinkles, dusts and edible glitter! Just hide it when you are done or you’ll find it has all been used on peanut butter sandwiches when you come back to use it. Gianna introduced us to this fun store and it has become a staple for special-occasion baking.
Another great place to find fun decorations is CandyLand Candy Store. They often have fun candies – like LEGO-shaped candies, a variety of gummie shapes and candy buttons
Gingerbread House Pattern from the Norway House
If you are looking for a pattern for a house, the Norway House offers this one. They are also a great place to find Gingerbread House Ideas. Every year they offer Gingerbread Wonderland (November 24, 2023 – January 7, 2024) – an exhibit of community-made gingerbread houses – some are elaborate others are made by families or even kids.
More Christmas Cookie Ideas
- If you like to mix it up, add some of these Easy Sugar Cookies in with your Gingerbread Cutout Cookies
- Want to Bake Cookies elsewhere to avoid the mess at home?: Where to Make Christmas Cookies in the Twin Cities.
- Don’t want to bake at all? Cookie Cart is a great organization that provides teens with work experience and training in an urban nonprofit bakery. Order your cookies from them and everyone wins.
- You can find More Recipes on our Family Recipes Pinterest Board.
Hey, why wait until Christmas? Make gingerbread cookies to match any time of the year.
Gingerbread cookies is my favorite Christmas treat. But they don’t always come out perfect because I grease my baking paper. Thanks for pointing that out.
Great recipe…Let me go and do it right.
We’re so glad you learned something new, Chinazor. My kids are loving those baking competition shows where the contestants are ordinary people. We’re learning so many new ideas. Even I am inspired to bake!