Description
Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies combine warm holiday spices with a soft, chewy texture and a charming cracked powdered sugar surface. Perfect for festive gatherings, these easy-to-make cookies fill your kitchen with the aroma of holiday magic and are ideal for sharing or gifting during the holiday season.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup molasses
Coating
- Powdered sugar (for coating dough balls)
Instructions
- Prepare Your Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, and salt. This ensures the spices are evenly distributed and the dry components blend smoothly with the wet ingredients.
- Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the unsalted butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy to create the creamy base for soft cookies.
- Add Egg and Molasses: Mix in the egg, beating well, then stir in the molasses until thoroughly combined. This adds richness and the classic gingerbread flavor.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Slowly add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring just until combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the dough tender and prevent tough cookies.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the dough and refrigerate for at least two hours or overnight. Chilling solidifies the butter, making the dough easier to handle and promoting the signature cookie crinkles.
- Form and Coat the Cookies: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll the chilled dough into 1-inch balls and generously coat each ball with powdered sugar, which creates the crinkled surface during baking.
- Bake to Perfection: Place dough balls on a lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are set but centers remain soft. Cool slightly on the pan, then transfer to a wire rack.
Notes
- Chill Thoroughly: Refrigerate dough adequately to control spread and enhance texture.
- Use Fresh Spices: Freshly ground spices enhance flavor intensity.
- Generous Powdered Sugar Coating: Ensure a thick sugar coat for beautiful cracking effect.
- Avoid Overbaking: Remove cookies when edges are firm but centers slightly underbaked for optimal chewiness.
- Use Parchment or Silicone Mats: Prevent sticking and promote even baking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 110 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
Keywords: Gingerbread, Holiday Cookies, Crinkle Cookies, Spiced Cookies, Festive Baking, Molasses Cookies, Christmas Cookies