• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Nina Kneads to Bake
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Contact
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Cookies and Squares

    Spiced Gingerbread Cookies

    Published: Dec 24, 2018 Modified: December 7, 2021 by Nina

    • Share
    • Tweet
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Twelve gingerbread cookies on a wired cooling rack.

    If you have ever been disappointed by mildly spiced gingerbread cookies before, these spiced gingerbread cookies are for you! Adding pepper to the perfect amount of spices, is a game changer! I dare to to try and eat just one!

    Twelve cookies on a wire rack.
    Jump straight to the recipe!
    • 👩‍🍳Perfectly spiced gingerbread cookies
    • 🥘Ingredients
    • 🔪Instructions
    • 🧁 How to decorate gingerbread cookies
    • ✔️Expert Tips
    • 💭 Recipe FAQ's
    • 🔖Related recipes
    • 📋 Recipe

    👩‍🍳Perfectly spiced gingerbread cookies

    I have had so many gingerbread cookies in my life. All of them, kind of meh. Most gingerbread cookies have a mild amount of spices to them that make them kind of ordinary. Not these ones! I have these cookies packed with the perfect amount of spices. No one would dare to call these ordinary!

    By the way, if you like a punch of gingerbread spices to cookies, try my chewy chocolate gingerbread cookies that are made with fresh ginger.

    Or try some other holiday recipes, like my creamy peanut butter fudge, whipped shortbread cookies, cranberry pecan upside down cake, or snappy turtle cookies!

    🥘Ingredients

    All the ingredients needed to make these cookies.

    📃Ingredient notes

    • pepper - yes, there is black pepper in these gingerbread cookies. Trust me, you don't taste the pepper. It helps give the cookies that huge spiced flavour.
    • brown sugar - I used light brown sugar in this recipe. Feel free to sub with dark brown sugar. Your cookies will just come out a little darker in colour.

    🔪Instructions

    Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, spices, pepper, and salt together in a medium bowl.

    Beat butter and brown sugar in a large bowl until fluffy. Mix in eggs and molasses. Add in the dry ingredients and mix until just incorporated. Divide dough into two discs, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1 hour or up to 24 hours.

    Two discs of cookie dough, wrapped in plastic wrap.

    When ready, roll dough out on a lightly floured surface to ¼-inch thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes, and place them 1-inch apart on a parchment lined baking sheet. Gently knead scraps together and re-roll out. Cut out cookies until all the dough is used.

    Rolled out cookie dough on a floured surface.  Gingerbread men have been cut from some of the dough.

    Bake cookies in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the cookie bottoms are lightly browned. Cool on their cookies sheets for 2 minutes, and then transfer to a wire rack to cool to room temperature.

    🧁 How to decorate gingerbread cookies

    • Icing - A quick icing made from powdered sugar and water. Or something more elaborate like royal icing.
    • Sprinkles - Sprinkles belong on everything in my opinion!
    • Powdered sugar - A little dusting of powdered sugar would fancy these cookies up!
    Cookies scattered around with two cinnamon sticks in the tops left corner.  A cup of tea is partially seen at the top.

    ✔️Expert Tips

    • Make sure you chill the dough after it has been made. The dough will be too sticky to roll out.
    • Chill the cookies after they have been cut out. They will hold their shape better if they go into the oven cold.
    • Don't be worried about flour on your cookies. It will bake off.

    💭 Recipe FAQ's

    Can I make these ahead?

    You can make the dough a day ahead. Roll out and bake the next day.

    Can I freeze these cookies?

    Yes, they can be frozen in an airtight freezer container for up to 3 months. The dough can also be frozen for up to 3 months.

    Is this dough good for gingerbread houses?

    No, gingerbread for making houses needs to be more sturdy so it can hold it's structure.

    Twelve cookies on a wire rack.

    🔖Related recipes

    • Raspberry Truffle Brownies
    • Christmas Rice Krispie Squares
    • Pecan Pie Brownies
    • Snappy Turtle Cookies

    Let's Bake Together!

    Step-by-step instructions are all written in my recipe below. If you liked it, please rate me 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐!

    If you tried this recipe, be sure to tag me on Instagram. You can also find me on Facebook and Pinterest.

    📋 Recipe

    A bunch of cookies on a wire rack.

    Spiced Gingerbread Cookies

    Nina
    If you have ever been disappointed by mildly spiced gingerbread cookies before, these spiced gingerbread cookies are for you! Adding pepper to the perfect amount of spices, is a game changer! I dare to to try and eat just one!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 30 mins
    Cook Time 12 mins
    Total Time 42 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine North American
    Servings 32 Medium cookies
    Calories 101 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 3 cups all purpose flour plus more for dusting
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
    • 2 teaspoon ground ginger
    • 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ¾ teaspoon ground cloves
    • ½ teaspoon ground pepper
    • ¾ teaspoon salt
    • ½ cup unsalted butter room temperature
    • ½ cup light brown sugar packed
    • 1 large eggs room temperature
    • ½ cup molasses

    Instructions
     

    • Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, spices and salt together in a large bowl. Set aside.
    • Beat butter and brown sugar together in the bowl of an electric mixer until fluffy. Add eggs and molasses and mix until incorporated. Add dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
      Divide dough into two discs, and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour or up to 2 days.
    • Preheat oven to 350F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
    • Roll out dough to ¼ inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Cut into shapes of your choice and place 1 inch apart on the baking sheets. Knead scraps of dough together and re-roll out. Keep cutting cookies out until all the dough has been used.
    • Refrigerate until the cookies firm up again, about 15 minutes.
    • Bake for 10-12 minutes. Let cool and then store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

    Notes

    • Make sure you chill the dough after it has been made. The dough will be too sticky to roll out.
    • Use light or dark brown sugar.  I used light for this recipe.
    • Chill the cookies after they have been cut out. They will hold their shape better if they go into the oven cold.
    • Don't be worried about flour on your cookies. It will bake off.

    YOUR OWN NOTES

    Click here to add your own private notes

    Nutrition

    Serving: 32gCalories: 101kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 1gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 81mgPotassium: 101mgFiber: 1gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 98IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe? Follow me on Instagram!Mention @ninakneadstobake or tag #ninakneadstobake!

    More Cookies & Squares Recipes

    • Creamy Peanut Butter Fudge
    • Ladyfingers (Savoiardi)
    • Bakery Style White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
    • Pumpkin Spice Scones

    Reader Interactions

    Did you try this recipe? Comment below to let me know ☺️ Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Nina! I am a self-taught baker and have a love for baking and trying new techniques. Here you will find easy step-by-step sweet and savoury recipes, with lots of tips.

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • Vanilla Cake with Chocolate Mousse Filling
    • Cherry Layer Cake {with Cherry Cream Cheese Frosting}
    • Authentic Key Lime Pie {without condensed milk}
    • White Cake with Strawberry Filling
    • Olive Garden Sicilian Cheesecake {with strawberry topping}
    • Cheesecake Factory Italian Lemon Cream Cake

    Valentine's Day Recipes

    • Copycat Cheesecake Factory Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake
    • Classic Cherry Pie
    • Easy Strawberry Shortcake Recipe
    • Red Velvet Cheesecake Trifle
    • Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls
    • Strawberry Crepe Cake {with homemade crepes}

    Game Day Recipes

    • Easy Pepperoni Stromboli
    • Buttery Soft Pretzels
    • Homemade Pizza Dough
    • Philly Cheesesteak with Homemade Bun
    • Cheesy Chicken Noodle Casserole
    • Pizza Rice Casserole

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy & Terms of Conditions
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact