Description
Homemade gingerbread cookies offer a delightful spice blend reminiscent of winter holidays. Warm molasses and fragrant spices create a classic treat perfect for sharing with family and friends.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ⅔ cups (345 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup (205 g) light brown sugar, firmly packed
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated white sugar
- ¼ cup (60 ml) (90 g) unsulphured molasses
- 2 large egg whites (60 g), room temperature
- 2 tsps (10 g) baking soda
- 1 tsp (2 g) ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp (2 g) ground ginger
- ½ tsp (2 g) salt
- ½ tsp (1 g) ground cloves
- ½ tsp (1 g) pure vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions
- Creaming: Blend sugar and butter in an electric mixer until the mixture transforms into a light, fluffy, and pale consistency, about 2-3 minutes.
- Wet Ingredient Fusion: Mix egg whites, vanilla extract, and molasses into the butter blend until completely integrated.
- Dry Ingredient Preparation: Whisk flour, baking soda, salt, and spices in a separate bowl to ensure even distribution of dry components.
- Dough Formation: Delicately incorporate dry ingredients into wet mixture, stirring minimally to prevent overworking the dough.
- Chilling Process: Encase dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, allowing flavor development and structural firmness.
- Oven Preparation: Set oven to 350°F (180°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cookie Shaping: Extract chilled dough and craft uniform balls, then roll each thoroughly in granulated sugar.
- Placement and Flattening: Distribute sugar-coated balls across baking sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart, and gently press with glass bottom to create uniform discs.
- Baking Stage: Bake for 8-10 minutes, targeting slightly set edges while maintaining a soft, tender center.
- Cooling Protocol: Transfer cookies to wire rack, allowing them to cool completely and achieve optimal crisp texture.
Notes
- Chill for Flavor: Refrigerating the dough for at least an hour allows spices to meld and intensify, creating deeper, more complex gingerbread taste.
- Prevent Overmixing: Fold dry ingredients gently just until combined to keep cookies tender and prevent tough, dense texture.
- Sugar Coating Technique: Roll dough balls completely in granulated sugar for a delightful crackly exterior and sweet crisp finish.
- Watch Baking Time Carefully: Check cookies at 8 minutes to avoid overbaking; they should have set edges but remain soft in the center for perfect texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg