Homemade Gingerbread Cookies

Here is a recipe I originally found in a magazine many years ago. I make these cookies, mainly at Christmas time, but I also make them periodically throughout the year. Instead of using white or brown sugar in my recipes, I use coconut sugar. Feel free to use whichever one you desire.

Homemade Gingerbread Cookies

3 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
3/4 cup coconut sugar*
3/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg
Red hots**, licorice strings, currants, raisins, crushed candy canes for decoration (optional)

  Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a small bowl. Set aside.   Place sugar and softened butter in a mixing bowl and mix until creamy and smooth.*** Add molasses and egg and continue to blend until well combined.
   Remove dough from bowl and form into a flat disk. Cover with plastic wrap or parchment paper. Chill for at least 2 hours.
   Remove dough from refrigerator and preheat over to 350 degrees. Lightly grease baking sheets.****
   Roll out dough to about 1/8" thickness on a floured board or countertop. Cut out cookies according to desired shapes and decorate as desired. Place cookies on baking sheets about an inch apart. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Cool. Carefully remove from cookie sheets onto waxed paper or a plate.

Homemade Gingerbread Cookies

* Use whatever sugar you prefer or have on hand. The original recipe calls for brown sugar. If you do not have brown sugar on hand, you can make your own by adding molasses to white sugar. Add about a teaspoon or two to a cup of sugar. Add more if you want darker brown sugar.

** I get my Red Hots at Dollar Tree. I'm sure that you can find them in other places. Some brands do not have the same quality of cinnamon heat in them so try the ones you have available to you first. If you are pleased with them, just stick with that brand.

*** I used a hand mixer when I first made this recipe and just about burned the motor out. I would recommend using a stand mixer if you have one. 

**** I always keep a little crock of butter out for greasing pans and bowls with. Another good product is a shortening put out by Nutiva. I use this one a lot.

These cookies go fast. They are not hard to make and are sure to please everyone who looks at them!

This article contains affiliate links.