1-First Step: Prepare Your Ingredients Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F and lining two baking sheets with parchment paper. Measure out all the ingredients like 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter, and the spices to ensure everything is ready. This mise en place helps avoid rushing and makes baking Gingerbread Cookies a breeze.

2-Second Step: Mix the Dough In a large bowl, cream together the 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter until light and fluffy, which takes about 2-3 minutes with a hand mixer. Add in the 1/2 cup molasses, 1 large egg, and mix well for another minute. In a separate bowl, whisk together the 2 1/4 cups flour, 1 tablespoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon cloves, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.

3-Third Step: Combine and Chill Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until a dough forms. If the dough feels sticky, that’s okay just wrap it in plastic and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes. This step is crucial for easy Frosted Gingerbread Cookies that hold their shape during baking.

4-Fourth Step: Shape and Bake Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Flatten each ball slightly with your fingers or a fork. Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes until the edges are firm but the centers are soft. Let them cool on the sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

5-Fifth Step: Make and Apply the Frosting While the cookies cool, whisk together 2 cups powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract in a bowl until smooth. Once the cookies are completely cool, spread or drizzle the frosting on top. For a fun twist, add sprinkles right away before the frosting sets.

6-Final Step: Serve and Enjoy Let the frosted cookies sit for 15 minutes to harden the topping, then serve them with a glass of milk or tea. These Gingerbread Cookies are perfect for holiday baking and can be stored for up to a week, making them great for party hosts. Remember, for more holiday ideas, try our refreshing gingerbread smoothie recipe on the site.