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Gingerbread Snowflake Cookies

There’s nothing more festive than **Gingerbread Snowflake Cookies**, beautifully decorated and full of **warm spices like ginger, cinnamon, and cloves**.
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Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • - Hand or stand mixer
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • - Rolling pin
  • - Snowflake cookie cutters
  • - Baking sheet
  • Parchment paper
  • - Cooling rack
  • - Piping bag (for icing, optional)

Ingredients
  

  • #### **For the Gingerbread Cookies**
  • - 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • - 1 tablespoon ground ginger
  • - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • - 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • - 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • - 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • - 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • - 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
  • - 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
  • - 1/2 cup molasses
  • - 1 egg
  • - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • #### **For the Royal Icing Optional**
  • - 2 cups powdered sugar
  • - 2 tablespoons milk or water
  • - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • - 1 tablespoon light corn syrup for shine

Instructions
 

  • #### **Step 1: Prepare the Dough**
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together **flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, salt, and baking soda**.
  • In a large mixing bowl, beat **butter and brown sugar** until light and fluffy (**about 2 minutes**).
  • Mix in **molasses, egg, and vanilla extract**, scraping down the sides as needed.
  • Gradually add the **dry ingredients**, mixing until a smooth dough forms.
  • #### **Step 2: Chill the Dough**
  • Divide dough into two discs, wrap in plastic, and **chill for at least 1 hour** (or up to overnight).
  • #### **Step 3: Roll & Cut the Cookies**
  • Preheat oven to **350°F (175°C)** and line a **baking sheet with parchment paper**.
  • On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to **1/4-inch thickness**.
  • Cut into **snowflake shapes** using cookie cutters.
  • #### **Step 4: Bake & Cool**
  • Place cookies on the baking sheet **1 inch apart**.
  • Bake for **8-10 minutes**, or until edges are firm but centers are still soft.
  • Let cool on the sheet for **5 minutes**, then transfer to a wire rack.
  • #### **Step 5: Make the Icing & Decorate**
  • Whisk together **powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and corn syrup** until smooth.
  • Transfer to a piping bag and decorate cookies with **snowflake patterns**.
  • Let icing set for **30 minutes before stacking or storing**.