As I hinted at in last week’s recap of the Best Christmas recipes, I have a serious love for gingerbread. Last year, I made this Gingerbread Cake with Sugared Cranberries. It was so delicious and a fun spin on the traditional cookie. This year, I wanted to go back to the classic and share gingerbread cookies on a new level with the cutest set. They truly are the ultimate gingerbread cookies!
The Ultimate Gingerbread Cookies
My mom has had this set of cookie cutters for a few years now and I have been wanting to try them. A few weeks ago, my mom mentioned the cookie cutters and I knew it would be the perfect Christmas cookie recipe to share with you this year! I wanted to create a winter scene with the cookies, so we used all the cookie cutters in the set. But, you could easily mix and match and use whichever ones you would like.
I will warn you, this isn’t our usual gingerbread cookie recipe. Since the cookies have to stand and fit into the bases, the gingerbread recipe that’s included with the cookie cutters is a little thicker than our usual. I’ve shared the recipe that’s included with the cookie cutters below.
This gingerbread scene might just be too good to eat. However, that did not stop us! We ate a few of the pieces as soon as we were done photographing them! This winter scene would make for a beautiful centerpiece for your table or other Christmas decoration idea. I sprinkled powdered sugar over the base of the cake stand once the cookies were placed. I also added the powdered sugar over the cookies to give a snowy impression. Also, if you are interested, the stand I used is from Magnolia Market and it’s currently on sale. You can shop the stand here. As for the cookie cutters, it seems that Williams-Sonoma has discontinued them, but I did finding a list for them here.
Have you started your holiday baking yet? What is your favorite Christmas cookie? Thanks for reading and see you back here tomorrow, friends!
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- 5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 sticks unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup molasses
- 1 egg
Ingredients
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- To make the dough: Be sure to have all ingredients at room temperature. Over a sheet of parchment paper, sift together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice and salt. Set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the flat beater, beat the butter on medium-high speed until fluffy and pale yellow, about 4-6 minutes. Add the brown and granulated sugars and beat for 1 minute. reduce the speed to low and add the molasses, beating until well combined, about 1 minute. Add the egg and beat until combined, about 30 seconds. Add the flour mixture in 4 additions, beating in each addition before adding more. Beat just until combined, stopping the mixer occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Using floured hands, form the dough into a smooth mound and divide into 4 equal portions. Shape each into a disk and wrap separately with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 2 days.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line several baking sheets with parchment paper. Remove 1 dough disk at a time from the refrigerator and let stand for 10 minutes. Place the dough between 2 sheets of parchment or waxed paper and roll out to a thickness of 1/4 to 3/8 inch. This thickness is important to ensure the baked cookies will fit together.
- To cut out and bake the cookies: Dip the cutters into flour just before using and cut out the shapes. Using an offset spatula, carefully transfer the cutouts to the prepared baking sheets, putting similar-size pieces on the same pan; snowman bases and reindeer legs on one; sleigh sides, treetops and tree bases on another; and snowman bodies, reindeer bodies and sleigh ends on another. The sides of each notch need to be parallel so the notch will fit into the interlocking piece after baking; if the sides have stretched apart, gently push them towards each other so they are parallel. Repeat with remaining dough. Gather up the scraps, reroll and cut out additional cookies. Refrigerate the cookies until firm, about 20 minutes.
- Bake the cookies until lightly browned on the bottom, about 4-5 minutes for snowman bases and reindeer legs; 6-7 minutes for snowman bodies, reindeer bodies and sleigh ends; and 8-9 minutes for sleigh sides, treetops and tree bases. Transfer the baking sheets to wire racks and let the cookies cool for 5 minutes. If the dough has spread into the notches during baking, use a paring knife to gently trim off the excess cookie while still warm so the cookies will interlock when assembled. Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheets, then decorate as desired and assemble. Makes 4 or 5 of each type of cookie.
- Decorating Tips: When decorating with frosting or royal icing, be sure to have enough space around the interlocking slots to ensure the cookies will fit together.
Absolutely adorable! They turned out awesome and you guys did soooo good! My son and his girl made a gingerbread house last night for his birthday! I LOVE these!
Wow! You are seriously a talented baker. I shy away from anything that has to do with rolling out dough, so I am seriously impressed. What a beautiful and delicious Christmas treat.
xo, Whitney and Blaire
Peaches In A Pod
Cant go wrong with a good gingerbread cookie.
Those gingerbread cookies look adorable, and beautifully setup.
http://sugarcoatedbears.blogspot.com/
Oh my goodness those gingerbread cookies are beautiful! I almost would have trouble eating them… almost!
Omg, you did an amazing job, girl! These cookies look both devious and beautifully displayed, too! I’ve never made gingerbread cookies before, but plan to this year. I’ll have to use this as a guide. Thank so much for sharing, gorgeous, and I hope you have a great day!
XO,
Jalisa
THE STYLE CONTOUR
How cute are these cookies and I know that wasnt as easy as it looks… you did AMAZING!!! My son told me the other night he wanted to decorate holiday cookies for Christmas so I am thinking we might have to do this! Awesome 🙂
Brittany 🙂
http://www.kingdomofsequins.com
This is so amazing! You did such a great job!
<3 Shannon
This is so beautiful! I will be featuring your cookies at Totally Terrific Tuesday this week! Have a great week.