Gingerbread Cookies - with Cream Cheese Frosting - the most requested Christmas Cookie Recipe. (2024)

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These Gingerbread Cookies with Frosting are soft spiced cookies topped with cream cheese frosting and holiday sprinkles. The most requested Christmas cookie recipe and so easy to make.

Gingerbread Cookies - with Cream Cheese Frosting - the most requested Christmas Cookie Recipe. (2)

Easy Gingerbread Cookies with Frosting

If gingerbread is a smell that you don’t have in your house at Christmas time, then you are missing out! These amazing cookies will fill your kitchen with a wonderful aroma that will make your mouth water. These ginger cookies are great for any Christmas occasion or to give as a gift!

For more irresistible Christmas cookies, try my Gingerbread Man Cookies, Linzer Cookies, and Jam Thumbprint Cookies too!

Watch How It’s Made

See how easy this recipe is to make in this short video below.

Key Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s an overview of what you’ll need for these cookies. Scroll down to the recipe card below for measurements.

  • Sweeteners: You will need three types of sweeteners for this recipe, granulated sugar plus a little extra for the cookies as well as molasses. You will also use powdered sugar for the frosting.
  • Flour: Use all-purpose flour for the best results along with baking soda to allow the cookies to properly rise in the oven.
  • Spices: These will be used to get the gingerbread flavor and have your kitchen smelling so good in no time. You will use a combination of ground ginger and cinnamon.
  • Frosting: Butter, cream cheese and powdered sugar are combined to make this delicious cream cheese frosting.
  • Holiday Sprinkles: You can use any kind of Christmas or Holiday themed sprinkles for decoration.

How To Make Gingerbread Cookies with Icing

Here’s an overview of how to make these cookies. See the recipe card below for more detailed instructions.

Gingerbread Cookies - with Cream Cheese Frosting - the most requested Christmas Cookie Recipe. (3)
Gingerbread Cookies - with Cream Cheese Frosting - the most requested Christmas Cookie Recipe. (4)
Gingerbread Cookies - with Cream Cheese Frosting - the most requested Christmas Cookie Recipe. (5)
  • Make the dough. Combine the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then add in the eggs and molasses. Stir in the flour, ground ginger, baking soda, and cinnamon. Divide the dough into 6 equal portions.
  • Make the cookies. Roll each portion into dough balls, coating each one in extra sugar. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes, until fully cooked and slightly cracked. Cool for 10 minutes then transfer to a cooling rack.
Gingerbread Cookies - with Cream Cheese Frosting - the most requested Christmas Cookie Recipe. (6)
Gingerbread Cookies - with Cream Cheese Frosting - the most requested Christmas Cookie Recipe. (7)
  • Make the frosting. Beat the butter and cream cheese then gradually add in the powdered sugar until fluffy.
  • Frost the cookies. Transfer the frosting to a piping bag then frost a spiral pattern on each cooled cookie. Top with sprinkles and enjoy!
Gingerbread Cookies - with Cream Cheese Frosting - the most requested Christmas Cookie Recipe. (8)
Gingerbread Cookies - with Cream Cheese Frosting - the most requested Christmas Cookie Recipe. (9)

Tips and Tricks:

  • If you prefer to not use frosting for these cookies, you can skip the frosting and have a plain cookie and it will still taste incredible.
  • Because the dough is made to have soft and chewy cookies, this would not be a good recipe for cookie cutters.
  • I love using food coloring gel to color my frosting red and green for Christmas!

How To Store Gingerbread Cookies with Frosting

  • Room temperature. Place the leftover cookies in an airtight container in a single layer for the best storage method. You can keep these cookies stored for up to 3 days at room temperature without frosting.
  • Fridge. You can also keep them for up to 5 days in the fridge, but before you try to eat them, make sure they reach room temperature before serving.
Gingerbread Cookies - with Cream Cheese Frosting - the most requested Christmas Cookie Recipe. (10)

More Gingerbread Recipes

  • Gingerbread Cheesecake
  • Gingerbread Cream Horns (Air Fryer)
  • Gingerbread Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
  • White Chocolate Gingerbread Balls
  • Gingerbread Kiss Cookies

Gingerbread Cookies - with Cream Cheese Frosting - the most requested Christmas Cookie Recipe. (11)

5 from 3 votes

Gingerbread Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

These Gingerbread Cookies with Frosting are soft spiced cookies topped with cream cheese frosting and holiday sprinkles. The most requested Christmas cookie recipe and so easy to make.

Servings: 6 cookies

Prep: 20 minutes mins

Cook: 15 minutes mins

Total: 35 minutes mins

Ingredients

Frosting

  • 1 cup or 2 sticks butter softened
  • 1 8 oz block cream cheese softened
  • 1 lb. powdered sugar
  • Holiday sprinkles

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

  • In a large mixing bowl using an electric mixer cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.

  • Add in the egg and molasses and mix until combined.

  • Next add in the flour, ground ginger, baking soda, and cinnamon until combined.

  • Separate the dough into 6 equal portions and roll it into balls.

  • Roll the balls in the extra sugar until well coated.

  • Place the cookies on a large cookie sheet giving them plenty of space. You may need to do this in 2 batches.

  • Bake the cookies for 13-15 minutes or until the cookies are cooked through and have a cracked appearance.

  • Let the cookies cool on the pan for 10 minutes before moving to a cooling rack to finish cooling.

  • Meanwhile, prepare the frosting.

  • In a large bowl cream together the 2 sticks of butter and the cream cheese.

  • Next, slowly add in the powdered sugar and mix until well combined and fluffy.

  • Place the frosting in a piping bag with a round tip or a Ziploc bag with the tip cut off.

  • Pipe the frosting in a spiral pattern and add holiday sprinkles.

  • Serve!!

Last Step:

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Nutrition

Calories: 1134kcal | Carbohydrates: 156g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 56g | Saturated Fat: 35g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 173mg | Sodium: 638mg | Potassium: 294mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 118g | Vitamin A: 1737IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 3mg

Did You Make This?

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Gingerbread Cookies - with Cream Cheese Frosting - the most requested Christmas Cookie Recipe. (12)

Categories:

  • Christmas
  • Cookies
  • Desserts
  • Holidays
  • Recipes
Gingerbread Cookies - with Cream Cheese Frosting - the most requested Christmas Cookie Recipe. (13)

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Gingerbread Cookies - with Cream Cheese Frosting - the most requested Christmas Cookie Recipe. (2024)

FAQs

Are gingerbread cookies popular? ›

The habit of eating gingerbread cookies during Christmas soon became a staple as many saw them as unique gifts. Many also decorated their Christmas trees with gingerbread men or houses, leading to an increase in their popularity.

What Flavours go well with gingerbread? ›

Citrus of some kind (orange more often, lemon less often) was also very popular. A simple brown butter buttercream with a pinch of cardamom would be wonderful! Adding any berries would also be a nice touch. Pears or apples pair nicely as well.

How long do frosted gingerbread cookies last? ›

How Long do Gingerbread Cookies Last. After you have baked your gingerbread cookies and they are decorated perfectly, they will last for 4-6 weeks. Gingerbread is a fairly dry type of cookie which extends it's shelf life. Less moisture means the cookies will be more resistant to mold.

Are gingerbread cookies healthier than other cookies? ›

Beneficial Minerals

Despite their drawbacks, ginger cookies offer some nutritional value, and boost your iron and manganese intakes. Iron plays a key role in energy production, and it supports tissue health by helping red blood cells carry oxygen to your tissues.

What is the number one selling cookie? ›

Oreo is the best-selling cookie in the world. It is now sold in over 100 countries. Oreo was first produced in 1912 by the National Biscuit Company, now known as Na-Bis-Co. But did you know Oreos are a copycat product?

What is the most popular Christmas cookie every year? ›

Based on this data from General Mills, Peanut Butter Blossoms are the most popular Christmas cookie in the country; it's the most-visited cookie recipe in seven states, which means it's the most common favorite cookie in the U.S. That's a pretty high honor!

What are the three types of gingerbread? ›

The three distinct types of gingerbread are brown gingerbread, wafer-based gingerbread and honey gingerbread.
  • BROWN GINGERBREAD.
  • WAFER GINGERBREAD.
  • HONEY GINGERBREAD.

What do gingerbread cookies have to do with Christmas? ›

In the late 17th century, gingerbread became associated with Christmas. Russian bakers prepared gingerbread men and women, usually as replicas of those people attending parties. Gingerbread houses were introduced about 200 years later, when the Grimm brothers wrote Hansel and Gretel. A new holiday tradition was born.

What is Christmas gingerbread? ›

Gingerbread refers to a broad category of baked goods, typically flavored with ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon and sweetened with honey, sugar, or molasses. Gingerbread foods vary, ranging from a moist loaf cake to forms nearly as crisp as a ginger snap. Gingerbread. Main ingredients. Ginger root, honey or ...

Can you eat old gingerbread cookies? ›

Definitely not safe to eat. Unless your gingerbread was hermetically sealed and then radiated to kill any and all microbes, bacteria and mold, it will definitely be growing something unpleasant for humans to consume.

How do you store frosted gingerbread cookies? ›

Making These Cookies in Advance and Storing Them

Baked and frosted cookies can be stored in an airtight container or ziplock bag at room temperature for up to 2 days, in the fridge for 5 days, or in the freezer for a month.

How do you store decorated gingerbread cookies? ›

The best storage methods

Decorated gingerbread cookies will last up to two weeks in an airtight container, but make sure you let them rest (uncovered) for 2 hours to let the icing dry. If you're worried about them sticking together, layer the cookies between wax paper.

Why do people eat gingerbread cookies? ›

Although the core ingredients of gingerbread had become more affordable to a wider proportion of society, it was still considered a treat to be eaten on special occasions. Gingerbread was particularly associated with fairs. It was considered good luck to eat a piece of gingerbread bought at a fair.

Are gingerbread cookies good for your stomach? ›

Surprising benefits

Research shows it may aid in digestion, reduce nausea and help fight the common cold and flu. It's also believed ginger may support weight management, help manage arthritis and may also alleviate menstrual symptoms.

Can dogs eat gingerbread? ›

The answer is no. While you may not immediately see negative affects in your pet's health, gingerbread is high in oil and fats that can slow your pet down. Also, Rover reports that gingerbread can cause pancreatitis in dogs, which sounds like a big ol' NO from us.

Why are gingerbread cookies popular? ›

In the 11th century, crusaders brought back exotic spices from the Middle East, including ginger, which was highly prized for its medicinal properties. The use of ginger in baking became popular in Europe, and gingerbread quickly became a favorite treat.

What percentage of people like gingerbread? ›

Chocolate Chip (40 percent) Peanut Butter (26 percent) Sugar (25 percent) Gingerbread (21 percent)

What is the 2nd most popular cookie? ›

Nabisco Oreo was the second ranked cookie brand of the United States with about 674.2 million U.S. dollars worth of sales in 2017.

What are the top 5 favorite cookies? ›

Some of the most popular cookie flavors include:
  • Chocolate chip.
  • Peanut butter.
  • Peanut butter blossoms.
  • Double chocolate chip.
  • Snickerdoodle.
  • Sugar.
  • Shortbread.
  • Pumpkin.

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