Looking for an easy, homemade gingerbread cookie recipe? This one has ingredients that are already in your pantry! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
I know Christmas has come and gone, but you can still enjoy these delicious homemade gingerbread cookies, especially now that the busy-ness of the holidays is behind us. This recipe is one of my favorites because it’s not too sweet, not too spicy, uses whole wheat flour, and doesn’t require molasses (because I don’t usually keep that in my pantry). It’s perfect for my kiddos, and I love eating these cookies by dipping them in my coffee.
Ingredients for Gingerbread Cookies:
3 cups of whole wheat flour (I mill my own whole wheat flour with a Wondermill)
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp cinnamon
6 Tbsp butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
2/3 cup maple syrup
2 tsp vanilla extract
Gingerbread man cookie cutter
Directions for Gingerbread Cookies:
1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line your cookie sheets with parchment paper. (I used 2 cookie sheets and let one bake while removing and adding new gingerbread men on the other).
2) First, combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl – flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, and cinnamon.
3) In a large bowl, beat softened butter, brown sugar, and egg until almost whipped. Add in maple syrup and vanilla and continue to mix until well blended.
4) Stir in dry ingredients gradually and mix until dough is smooth.
5) Flour your surface, place dough and then add flour on top of your dough too, before rolling out so the rolling pin doesn’t stick. Roll out dough. Use a cookie cutter to cut out your gingerbread men (or whatever other shape you want to use) and place them on your lined baking sheet.
6) Bake for 8 – 9 minutes. Remove cookie sheet and allow cookies to cool on a wire rack. While waiting for cookies to be cool enough to decorate, make your royal icing.
Ingredients for Royal Icing
2 large egg whites
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
Directions for Royal Icing
1) Using a hand mixer, beat egg whites with vanilla extract until frothy. Slowly add in powdered sugar and beat on low speed until combined and smooth. Then beat on high until stiff (about 5 or 6 minutes).
2) Place icing in a bag with a decorating tip and use to ice your cookies in whatever design you prefer. We made a few different kinds of gingerbread men, but my favorite were the ones I outlined in icing. We also flipped the gingerbread man upside down and decorated them as reindeer. Have fun with your designs!
Did you try this recipe? I’d love to hear how it turned out for you in the comments below! Feel free to post a picture of your decorated homemade gingerbread cookies too. (And don’t forget to try them dipped in coffee! Yum!)
These are so cute. Can’t wait to try!
Thanks! The kids and I really enjoyed making them, and I liked that they were semi “healthy” at least as far as cookies go. lol.