Spiced Sugar Gingerbread Cookies
Delight in the warmth of the holiday season with these delightful Spiced Sugar Gingerbread Cookies! This recipe offers a creative twist on traditional gingerbread by omitting molasses, resulting in a beautifully balanced cookie that maintains the beloved spices of gingerbread while achieving a lighter and crisper texture. Ideal for festive cookie trays or holiday gatherings, these cookies are perfect for decorating or enjoying plain. They even store well in a cookie tin, making them a great treat for sharing or savoring at home. With each bite, experience a wonderful balance of sweetness from brown sugar and a medley of aromatic spices, ensuring these cookies are truly a treat for the senses.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
10
Ingredients
Ingredients
butter
1 cup (softened)
brown sugar
3/4 cup (packed)
sugar
3/4 cup (granulated)
egg
1
flour
2 1/2 cups (all-purpose)
baking soda
2 teaspoons
cinnamon
2 teaspoons (ground)
clove
1 teaspoon (ground)
nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon (ground)
ground ginger
2 teaspoons
Instructions
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1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
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2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy.
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3. Beat in the egg until fully incorporated.
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4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ground ginger until well combined.
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5. Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the butter-sugar mixture, mixing until a smooth dough forms.
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6. For a decorative touch, you can wrap the dough into a ball, flatten it slightly, wrap it in plastic, and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
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7. If you prefer, you can also roll the dough into a log, wrap it, chill it, and later slice it into rounds for baking.
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8. Once chilled, roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/8 inch thick and use cookie cutters to create your desired shapes.
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9. Place the cut cookies on a lightly greased cookie sheet, ensuring they are spaced at least 1/2 inch apart due to slight spreading during baking.
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10. Bake in the preheated oven for 6-9 minutes, or until the edges are just barely golden. Keep an eye on them to avoid over-baking.
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11. Remove from the oven and cool the cookies on a wire rack to maintain their crispness.
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12. After cooling completely, feel free to frost them with your favorite icing, or enjoy them plain for a simpler treat.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Spiced Sugar Gingerbread Cookies?
They are a creative twist on traditional gingerbread cookies that omit molasses for a lighter, crisper texture while keeping the aromatic spices.
How do these cookies differ from traditional gingerbread?
The main difference is the absence of molasses, which results in a more balanced sweetness and a lighter color and texture compared to the dark, chewy traditional version.
What temperature should I set my oven to?
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) before baking.
How do I prepare the butter and sugar?
You should cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and white sugar in a large mixing bowl until the mixture is light and fluffy.
When should I add the egg?
Beat in the egg after the butter and sugars have been creamed together until it is fully incorporated.
What dry ingredients are included in this recipe?
The dry ingredients consist of all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, ground nutmeg, and ground ginger.
How should I combine the dry and wet ingredients?
Gradually add the whisked dry ingredient mixture to the butter-sugar mixture, mixing until a smooth dough forms.
Is it necessary to chill the dough?
Yes, chilling is recommended for at least 30 minutes to help the dough firm up for easier rolling and cutting.
How should I prepare the dough for chilling?
You can either wrap the dough into a ball and flatten it slightly or roll it into a log and wrap it in plastic before placing it in the refrigerator.
Can I make slice-and-bake cookies with this recipe?
Yes, you can roll the dough into a log, chill it, and then slice it into rounds for baking.
How thick should I roll the cookie dough?
Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface to about 1/8 inch thickness.
What should I use to cut the cookies into shapes?
Use your favorite cookie cutters to create your desired festive shapes after rolling the dough out.
Do I need to grease the cookie sheet?
Yes, place the cut cookies on a lightly greased cookie sheet to prevent sticking.
How much space should I leave between cookies on the tray?
Ensure they are spaced at least 1/2 inch apart because they will spread slightly during the baking process.
How long do the cookies need to bake?
Bake them for 6 to 9 minutes, keeping a close eye on them to avoid over-baking.
How can I tell when the cookies are finished baking?
The cookies are done when the edges are just barely golden.
How should I cool the gingerbread cookies?
Remove them from the oven and transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely to maintain their crispness.
Can I frost these cookies?
Yes, once cooled completely, you can frost them with your favorite icing or enjoy them plain.
What is the best way to store these cookies?
They store very well in a cookie tin, which helps keep them fresh for sharing or eating later.
What kind of ginger is used in the recipe?
The recipe calls for 2 teaspoons of ground ginger.
Is brown sugar used in this recipe?
Yes, the recipe uses 3/4 cup of packed brown sugar for sweetness and depth.
Does this recipe use white sugar too?
Yes, it includes 3/4 cup of granulated white sugar along with the brown sugar.
What spices give these cookies their flavor?
The warm flavor comes from a blend of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ground ginger.
How many ingredients are in this recipe?
There are 10 total ingredients in this Spiced Sugar Gingerbread Cookie recipe.
What type of flour is best for these cookies?
The recipe specifies using all-purpose flour.
Can I use this recipe for holiday cookie trays?
Absolutely, these cookies are ideal for festive trays, holiday gatherings, and gifting.
Why is baking soda used in the dough?
Baking soda acts as a leavening agent to help the cookies rise slightly and achieve the right texture.
Can I skip the chilling step if I am in a hurry?
It is not recommended, as chilling prevents the dough from being too sticky and helps it hold its shape during cutting and baking.
Are these cookies soft or crisp?
These cookies are designed to have a lighter and crisper texture compared to standard gingerbread.
What makes the texture 'lighter' in this version?
Omitting the heavy molasses allows the sugar and butter to create a crisper, more delicate cookie structure.