Old-Fashioned Gingerbread Recipe
Description: Indulge in the delightful aroma and rich flavor of this old-fashioned gingerbread recipe, straight from the kitchen of John Zehnder, the esteemed Food and Beverage Director of Zehnder’s Restaurant in Frankenmuth, Michigan. With a perfect blend of spices and sweetness, this gingerbread is a winter treat that will evoke memories of Christmas and cozy evenings by the fireplace. The preparation time includes an hour for chilling the dough, allowing the flavors to meld together beautifully.
Recipe Category: Dessert 🍪🎄
Keywords: Cookie & Brownie, Winter, Spicy, Christmas, Sweet, Weeknight, Oven, < 4 Hours
Nutritional Information (per batch):
- Calories: 4477.1
- Fat Content: 164.3g
- Saturated Fat Content: 100.7g
- Cholesterol Content: 622.5mg
- Sodium Content: 2818.2mg
- Carbohydrate Content: 721.5g
- Fiber Content: 11g
- Sugar Content: 437.1g
- Protein Content: 42g
Ingredients:
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 8 | Butter |
| 1/2 | cup light brown sugar |
| 1/2 | cup molasses |
| 1 | egg |
| 2 1/2 | cups all-purpose flour |
| 1 | tsp baking powder |
| 1/2 | tsp salt |
| 1 | tsp ground ginger |
| 1 | tsp ground cinnamon |
| 1/2 | tsp ground allspice |
| 2 | cups powdered sugar |
| 1/3 | cup butter |
| 1 | tsp vanilla extract |
| 1 | tbsp milk |
| 1 | tsp ground nutmeg |
Instructions:
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Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
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Cream together butter and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and light brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the molasses and egg, beating well after each addition until fully incorporated.
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Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, and ground allspice until evenly combined.
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Mix wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed butter and sugar mixture, stirring until a smooth dough forms.
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Chill the dough: Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour, or until firm.
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Roll out the dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to about a 3/4-inch thickness.
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Cut into shapes: Using a knife or cookie cutters, cut the dough into 3-inch squares or your desired shapes.
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Bake: Place the cut-out shapes onto parchment-lined baking sheets, leaving space between each cookie. Bake in the preheated oven for 7-8 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
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Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before icing.
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Prepare the icing: In a small bowl, mix together the powdered sugar, softened butter, vanilla extract, milk, and ground nutmeg until smooth and creamy.
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Ice the gingerbread: Once the cookies are cooled, spread or drizzle the icing over the top of each cookie using a spatula or piping bag, allowing it to set before serving.
Enjoy the warm, spicy-sweet flavors of these old-fashioned gingerbread cookies, perfect for sharing with loved ones during the holiday season or any cozy winter night! 🎅🏼🍪✨
