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Soft Gingerbread Cookies Recipe

4.8 from 634 reviews

Delight in these soft, flavorful gingerbread cookies that blend warm spices with a rich molasses sweetness. Perfectly tender with a subtle spice kick, these cookies are rolled in sugar for an extra touch of crunch and sweetness. Ideal for holiday celebrations or any cozy occasion.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 2 cups flour
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground cloves
  • ½ tsp ginger

Wet Ingredients

  • ¾ cup shortening
  • 1 cup sugar plus about ¼ cup for rolling
  • 1 egg
  • ¼ cup molasses

Instructions

  1. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, thoroughly mix the flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, ground cloves, and ginger together. Set this dry mixture aside.
  2. Cream Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, cream together the shortening, 1 cup sugar, egg, and molasses using an electric mixer. Beat for about 2 minutes until the mixture is smooth and fluffy.
  3. Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and mix until all ingredients are well combined, forming a cookie dough.
  4. Scoop and Shape: Use a cookie scoop to portion out tablespoon-sized balls of dough. Roll each ball between your hands to achieve smooth, round shapes.
  5. Coat Dough in Sugar: Place the remaining ¼ cup sugar in a small bowl. Dip each cookie dough ball into the sugar, coating all sides evenly for a sweet, crunchy exterior.
  6. Prepare for Baking: Arrange the sugar-coated dough balls on a cookie sheet. Lightly flatten each with the palm of your hand or the bottom of a glass to form cookie shapes.
  7. Bake Cookies: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the cookies on the cookie sheet for 10 minutes until they are set but still soft.

Notes

  • Ensure not to overbake to keep cookies soft and chewy.
  • Using shortening contributes to the tenderness of the cookies.
  • For enhanced flavor, chill the dough for 30 minutes before baking.
  • Store cookies in an airtight container to maintain softness.

Keywords: soft gingerbread cookies, gingerbread recipe, holiday cookies, molasses cookies, spiced cookies