Best-Ever Easy Gingerbread Cookies with Eggnog Icing

These gingerbread cookies with eggnog icing bring together warm spices, rich molasses, and a creamy holiday-inspired finish. They are wonderfully festive, easy to shape with cookie cutters, and perfect for cookie exchanges, parties, or a cozy afternoon treat.

Quick Overview

• Prep Time: Not provided
• Cook Time: Not provided
• Total Time: Not provided
• Servings: Not provided

Why Make This Recipe

• Classic holiday flavor: Ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and molasses create the rich, warmly spiced flavor everyone expects from gingerbread.
• Perfect for decorating: The chilled dough rolls out easily and can be cut into stars, trees, snowflakes, people, and other festive shapes.
• A crowd-pleaser: These cookies are ideal for holiday gatherings, cookie swaps, school celebrations, and homemade gifts.
• Simple preparation: The dough comes together with basic pantry ingredients and requires only chilling, rolling, cutting, and baking.

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Eggnog icing is used to finish the cooled cookies, but no icing ingredients or measurements were provided.

How to Make It

1. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt.
   Combine the dry ingredients thoroughly so the baking soda and spices distribute evenly throughout the flour.

2. In another bowl, beat the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until creamy.
   Mixing until smooth creates a rich base for the cookie dough and helps blend the sugars evenly into the softened butter.

3. Add the egg, molasses, and vanilla; mix well.
   Stir until the wet ingredients are fully incorporated. The molasses will give the dough its deep color and signature gingerbread flavor.

4. Gradually add the flour mixture, blending until fully combined.
   Add the dry ingredients in stages and mix just until a cohesive dough forms. Avoid overmixing once the flour is incorporated.

5. Chill the dough for at least 2 hours.
   Chilling firms the butter and makes the dough easier to roll and cut. It also helps the cookies hold their shapes during baking.

6. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
   Make sure the oven reaches the correct temperature before baking the cookies.

7. Roll out the dough and cut out shapes.
   Roll the chilled dough and use cookie cutters to create your preferred festive shapes.

8. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges are firm.
   Bake until the edges feel firm. Keep a close eye on the cookies so they retain a pleasant texture.

9. Let cool before icing with eggnog icing.
   Allow the cookies to cool before decorating. Applying icing to warm cookies can cause it to soften or slide off.

How to Serve It

• Arrange the iced cookies on a festive platter with other holiday desserts.
• Serve them with hot coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or a glass of eggnog.
• Package individual cookies in small bags or boxes for a homemade holiday gift.

How to Store It

Store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature if they will be eaten soon. Separate layers with parchment paper to help protect the eggnog icing and decorations.

For longer storage, place the cookies in an airtight freezer-safe container, separating layers with parchment paper. Freeze until firm, then keep them well sealed to help prevent freezer odors and loss of quality.

Thaw frozen cookies in the refrigerator or at room temperature until completely thawed. These cookies are best served at room temperature; reheating is not necessary and may affect the icing.

Helpful Tips

1. Chill the dough for the full recommended time. The dough needs to chill for at least 2 hours so it becomes easier to handle and the cut-out shapes remain defined.
2. Avoid overmixing after adding the flour. Blend only until the ingredients are fully combined for tender cookies.
3. Cool the cookies completely before icing. This helps the eggnog icing stay in place and keeps the finished cookies looking neat.

Optional Variations

• Use different cookie cutters to create gingerbread people, stars, trees, snowflakes, or other seasonal designs.
• Add a light sprinkle of ground cinnamon to the eggnog icing for extra holiday warmth.
• Decorate with festive sprinkles or sugar after icing for added color and texture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I prepare the gingerbread dough ahead of time?
Yes. The dough is chilled for at least 2 hours, so it can be prepared in advance and kept chilled until you are ready to roll and cut it.

Why does the dough need to be chilled?
Chilling firms the butter, makes the dough easier to roll, and helps the cookies maintain their shapes while baking.

How do I know when the cookies are finished?
The cookies are ready when they have baked for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are firm.

Should I ice the cookies while they are warm?
No. Let the cookies cool before icing with eggnog icing so the icing does not soften or slide off.

Can I use different cookie cutter shapes?
Yes. Use any festive cookie cutter shapes you like, including stars, trees, snowflakes, or gingerbread people.

Gingerbread Cookies with Eggnog Icing

These gingerbread cookies feature warm spices and rich molasses, topped with a creamy holiday-inspired eggnog icing, making them perfect for festive gatherings.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 2 hours hrs

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 2 hours hrs 10 minutes mins

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 24 cookies

Calories 150 kcal

Ingredients

  

For the cookie dough

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the eggnog icing

• Eggnog icing ingredients not provided.

Instructions

 

Preparation

• In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt.
• In another bowl, beat the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until creamy.
• Add the egg, molasses, and vanilla; mix well.
• Gradually add the flour mixture, blending until fully combined.
• Chill the dough for at least 2 hours.

Baking

• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Roll out the dough and cut out shapes.
• Bake for 8-10 minutes or until edges are firm.
• Let cool before icing with eggnog icing.

Notes

Store leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. For longer storage, freeze in an airtight container. Thaw before serving.

Keyword Cookie Exchange, Eggnog Icing, Festive Treats, Gingerbread Cookies, Holiday Baking