Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

gingerbread cookies

(11 ratings)
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Doris Ware
Poteau, OK

I made these with all five of my kids. They enjoyed making them and each one got to pick out their own cookie cutter. We made two batches and hope you enjoy this recipe much as we do.

Blue Ribbon Recipe

We couldn't resist turning Doris' sweet and spicy gingerbread recipe into the little gingerbread men of our childhood! This is a wonderful spiced gingerbread cookie that's easy to make. The dough holds its shape when cut and baked. The cookies are chewy, sweet, and spicy. Decorate how you like, give them as gifts or enjoy them yourself. They keep really well and have a chewy texture for days.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(11 ratings)
yield serving(s)
prep time 1 Hr 30 Min
cook time 10 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For gingerbread cookies

  • 2 1/4 c
    all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 c
    sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp
    cinnamon
  • 1 tsp
    double-acting baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp
    baking soda
  • 1 tsp
    ginger
  • 1 tsp
    ground cloves
  • 1/2 tsp
    nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp
    salt
  • 1/2 c
    shortening
  • 1/2 c
    light molasses
  • 1
    egg

How To Make gingerbread cookies

Test Kitchen Tips
Don't skip chilling the dough in the fridge. It allows the cookies to keep their shape.

There was a tip from one of the members in a Just A Pinch Discussion Group that may help you roll out the dough: Cover your rolling pin with a new knee-hi pantyhose when rolling out dough and you'll keep the dough from sticking. Well, we've tried it and it works like a charm! The smarts on you all just never cease to amaze.
  • Sifting flour into a bowl.
    1
    Start early in the day. Sift the flour into a large bowl.
  • Flour, spices, and sugar in a bowl.
    2
    Add remaining dry ingredients to the flour. Stir.
  • Remaining ingredients added to the bowl.
    3
    Add remaining ingredients.
  • Mixing ingredients together.
    4
    Beat with a mixer on medium speed until well mixed.
  • Dough wrapped in plastic wrap to chill.
    5
    Cover and refrigerate at least one hour.
  • Rolling out the dough.
    6
    Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. On a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin, roll out the dough to 1/8 inch thick.
  • Cutting out cookies with a cookie cutter.
    7
    Using a cookie cutter, cut out gingerbread men or other shapes.
  • Cookies on a baking sheet.
    8
    Place cookies 1/2 inch apart on a cookie sheet. Re-roll the trimmings and repeat.
  • Cookies baking in the oven.
    9
    Bake for about 8 minutes.
  • Gingerbread cookies cooling on a wire rack.
    10
    Using a spatula, transfer the cookies to racks to cool.
  • Decorated Gingerbread Cookies.
    11
    Makes about 2 dozen 5-inch cookies.
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