Ho ho ho! The holiday season is here and what better way to celebrate than with some gingerbread treats? In this recipe, we’ll show you how to make adorable gingerbread Santa and Mrs. Claus cookies that are sure to bring some festive cheer to your home. So, grab your apron and let’s get baking!
Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Red and white frosting, for decorating
Instructions:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg, molasses, and vanilla extract, and beat until well combined.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until a dough forms. Divide the dough in half and shape each half into a disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Roll out the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness on a floured surface. Use a Santa and Mrs. Claus cookie cutter to cut out shapes from the dough. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned. Let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Decorate the cookies with red and white frosting to resemble Santa and Mrs. Claus.
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutritional Information:
Serving size: 1 cookie | Calories: 150 | Total Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2.5g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 70mg | Total Carbohydrates: 27g | Dietary Fiber: 0g | Sugars: 15g | Protein: 2g
Cooking Time:
Prep Time: 20 minutes | Cook Time: 10-12 minutes | Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Equipment:
- Medium bowl
- Large bowl
- Electric mixer
- Plastic wrap
- Rolling pin
- Santa and Mrs. Claus cookie cutters
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
Serving Suggestions:
These gingerbread Santa and Mrs. Claus cookies make a great addition to any holiday cookie platter. Serve them alongside other festive treats like sugar cookies, chocolate truffles, and peppermint bark.
Variations:
If you don’t have Santa and Mrs. Claus cookie cutters, you can use other holiday-themed cutters like snowflakes, Christmas trees, or reindeer. You can also switch up the frosting colors to match your preferred holiday color scheme.
Substitutions:
- If you don’t have molasses, you can use honey or maple syrup instead.
- If you prefer a spicier gingerbread, you can increase the amount of ginger and cinnamon in the recipe.
- If you’re short on time, you can use store-bought frosting instead of making your own.
Storage:
Store the gingerbread Santa and Mrs. Claus cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. You can also freeze the cookies for up to 3 months.
Tips:
- Chill the dough for at least 1 hour before rolling it out to prevent it from sticking to the rolling pin.
- Don’t overbake the cookies or they will become hard and dry.
- For best results, use a piping bag or squeeze bottle to decorate the cookies with frosting.
Notes:
This recipe makes about 24 gingerbread Santa and Mrs. Claus cookies, depending on the size of your cookie cutters.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Can I make the dough ahead of time?
- Can I freeze the dough?
- Can I use royal icing instead of frosting?
Yes, you can make the dough up to 2 days in advance and store it in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Yes, you can freeze the dough for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before rolling it out.
Yes, you can use royal icing to decorate the cookies if you prefer.
Personal Thoughts:
Overall, I absolutely love this gingerbread Santa and Mrs. Claus recipe! The cookies are soft and chewy with just the right amount of spice, and they’re so fun to decorate. I especially love how festive and cute they look on a holiday cookie platter. I highly recommend giving this recipe a try and spreading some holiday cheer!