Gingerbread People Recipe 🍪
Prepare to indulge in the holiday spirit with these delightful Gingerbread People cookies! Perfect for Christmas gatherings or any winter occasion, these sweet treats will fill your home with warmth and cheer. Let’s dive into the recipe:
Ingredients:
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 3/4 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup dark molasses
- 1 egg
Instructions:
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Prepare the Dough:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, baking powder, salt, ground cloves, and ground nutmeg. Mix well to ensure even distribution of ingredients.
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Cream the Butter and Sugar:
- In another large bowl, beat the softened butter and light brown sugar until light and fluffy. This step helps to incorporate air into the mixture, resulting in a softer texture for your cookies.
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Incorporate Wet Ingredients:
- Beat in the dark molasses and egg until well combined. The molasses adds a rich, caramel-like flavor while the egg helps bind the ingredients together.
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Combine Dry and Wet Mixtures:
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, beating until a smooth dough forms. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl to ensure all the ingredients are fully incorporated.
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Chill the Dough:
- Divide the dough into three equal portions and shape each into a disc. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until firm. Chilling the dough makes it easier to handle and roll out.
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Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s ready when the cookies are prepared for baking.
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Roll Out the Dough:
- Working with one disc at a time, place it on a lightly floured surface. Roll out the dough to a thickness of about 3/16-inch using a lightly floured rolling pin. This thickness ensures your cookies are neither too thin nor too thick.
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Cut Out the Cookies:
- Using floured 5-inch gingerbread people cookie cutters, cut out the shapes from the rolled dough. Place them on ungreased cookie sheets, leaving a bit of space between each cookie to allow for spreading during baking.
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Reuse Dough Trimmings:
- Gently press together any dough trimmings and reroll them to cut out more cookies. Waste not, want not!
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Bake to Perfection:
- Bake the cookies for about 12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown. Keep an eye on them to prevent over-browning.
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Cool and Decorate:
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 1 minute before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely. This prevents them from becoming too soft while cooling.
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Add Frosting and Decorations:
- Once cooled, unleash your creativity! Pipe frosting onto the cooled cookies and decorate them with candies or sprinkles if desired. This step adds a festive touch to your gingerbread people.
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Set and Store:
- Let the decorated cookies stand at room temperature for about 20 minutes, or until the frosting sets. Once set, store the cookies tightly covered at room temperature or freeze them for up to 3 months. They make for delightful treats anytime!
Nutritional Information (Per Serving):
- Calories: 203.4
- Fat: 9.1g
- Saturated Fat: 5.6g
- Cholesterol: 34.5mg
- Sodium: 182.1mg
- Carbohydrates: 28.6g
- Fiber: 0.7g
- Sugar: 12.6g
- Protein: 2.3g
Serving Size: 16 Large Cookies
Enjoy the aroma of spices filling your kitchen as you bake these adorable gingerbread people. Whether you’re sharing them with loved ones or indulging in a cozy moment by yourself, these cookies are sure to bring joy to your holiday season! 🎄✨
