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Soft gingerbread cookies recipe with cut-out gingerbread men on a plate

Soft Gingerbread Cookies Recipe (24 Perfect Cut-Outs)

Soft, spiced cut-outs that hold their shape.
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Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 24 minutes
Rest Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 29 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 140
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups (360 g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup (170 g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup (150 g) brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) molasses, unsulphured
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method
 

  1. Whisk flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, and salt.
  2. Beat butter and brown sugar for 2 to 3 minutes until pale and fluffy.
  3. Add molasses, egg, and vanilla, and beat until combined. Wash hands after handling raw egg.
  4. Add dry ingredients in two parts and mix just until a dough forms.
  5. Divide into two discs, wrap, and chill for 60 minutes.
  6. Roll the first disc to 1/4 inch (6 mm) thick and cut shapes. Roll the second disc the same way and cut shapes.
  7. Chill both trays of cut shapes for 15 minutes. Preheat the oven during the last 10 minutes of this chill to 350°F (175°C).
  8. Bake each tray for 12 minutes, for a total Cook Time of 24 minutes, until edges are firm and centers look slightly soft.
  9. Cool on the tray for 5 minutes, then on a wire rack for 5 more minutes, for a total Cooling Time of 10 minutes.

Notes

Keep dough cold for sharp shapes. Pull cookies when centers still look slightly soft, as they firm up while cooling. Store airtight for up to 1 week, or freeze dough for up to 3 months. Contains: gluten, dairy, egg. Serving size: 1 cookie. Total Time 149 minutes = Prep Time 40 minutes + Rest Time 75 minutes + Cook Time 24 minutes + Cooling Time 10 minutes. Nutrition per cookie: Calories 140, Protein 2 g, Carbohydrates 22 g, Fat 6 g, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 10 g, Sodium 100 mg. Values are approximate and may vary based on exact ingredients and brands used.