Festive Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies Recipe – Magical Winter Treats

Soft, pillowy, and bursting with warm spices, these gingerbread crinkle cookies promise a delightful winter treat.

Each cookie carries a nostalgic blend of molasses and classic gingerbread spices that dance across your palate.

The delicate crackled surface hints at the tender, chewy interior waiting to surprise you.

Powdered sugar creates a stunning snow-like coating that makes these cookies look as magical as they taste.

Rolling the dough in sugar before baking ensures a beautiful crinkled appearance that’s both rustic and elegant.

These cookies transform ordinary baking into a festive celebration of seasonal flavors.

Prepare to fall in love with a cookie that captures the essence of holiday comfort in every delectable bite.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 27 minutes

Calories: 120 kcal

Servings: 23

What’s In Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies

• All-Purpose Flour: The foundational base that provides structure and texture to your gingerbread cookies, ensuring a perfect crumbly yet soft consistency.
• Ground Ginger: Delivers a warm, zesty kick that defines the classic gingerbread flavor profile, bringing authentic spice depth.
• Ground Cinnamon: Adds a sweet, woody warmth that complements the ginger and creates that quintessential holiday aroma.
• Ground Cloves: Introduces a rich, intense spiciness that enhances the overall complex flavor of the cookies.
• Ground Nutmeg: Offers a subtle, sweet-woody note that rounds out the spice blend with a gentle background complexity.
• Baking Soda: Helps the cookies rise and creates a soft, tender texture while promoting beautiful crackled surfaces.
• Salt: Balances and intensifies the sweet and spicy flavors, bringing out the depth of the other ingredients.

• Butter: Provides rich, creamy texture and helps create a tender, melt-in-your-mouth cookie with incredible flavor.
• Brown Sugar: Adds moisture, deep caramel notes, and helps create a soft, chewy cookie texture.
• Molasses: Delivers a deep, rich sweetness and dark color typical of traditional gingerbread, enhancing the cookie's signature taste.
• Egg: Binds ingredients together and adds structure and richness to the cookie dough.
• Vanilla Extract: Introduces a subtle, sweet complexity that harmonizes with the warm spices.

• Granulated Sugar, Powdered Sugar: Create a delightful sweet exterior and produce the signature crackled, snow-dusted look.

Baking Gear For Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies

• Electric mixer: Essential for creaming butter and sugar to light, fluffy perfection.
• Medium bowl: Perfect for whisking dry ingredients together smoothly.
• Large mixing bowl: Needed for combining wet ingredients and creating cookie dough.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Crucial for precise ingredient measurements.
• Whisk: Helps blend dry ingredients evenly and break up any lumps.
• Baking sheets: For baking cookies to golden, crackled deliciousness.
• Parchment paper or silicone mats: Prevents cookies from sticking and ensures easy cleanup.
• Wire rack: Allows cookies to cool completely without getting soggy.
• Tablespoon or cookie scoop: Helps create uniform cookie sizes.

How To Bake Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies Perfectly

• Holiday Flavor Blend

Dive into a world of warm, spicy goodness by mixing dry ingredients that capture the essence of winter comfort. Your kitchen will smell like a festive dream, with hints of ginger and cinnamon dancing through the air.

• Creamy Butter Magic

Transform soft butter and rich brown sugar into a cloud-like mixture that becomes the heart of these delightful cookies. The molasses adds a deep, caramel-like warmth that makes these treats irresistible.

• Chill and Relax

Let the dough rest in the refrigerator, allowing the flavors to mingle and develop. This waiting period is crucial for creating that perfect, melt-in-your-mouth texture.

• Sugar Coating Adventure

Roll each cookie ball in a snowy blanket of sugars, creating a magical crackled exterior that looks like a winter wonderland. The white coating will contrast beautifully with the dark, spicy interior.

• Oven Transformation

Bake until the cookies develop those signature crackles, filling your kitchen with an aroma that whispers of holiday cheer. The edges should look set while the centers remain slightly soft and inviting.

• Cooling Moment

Allow the cookies to rest and settle, letting them transform from hot treats to perfect, crinkly delights ready to be devoured with a warm mug of cocoa.

Twists To Try On Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies

• Perfect Texture Tricks: Chill the dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and ensure those beautiful crinkle cracks during baking. Chilling helps control butter consistency and intensifies the warm spice flavors.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the cookie dough up to 3 days in advance and refrigerate, or freeze dough balls for up to 2 months. When ready to bake, roll in sugars and pop directly into the oven from frozen state.
• Gluten-Free Option: Swap regular flour with a high-quality gluten-free flour blend featuring xanthan gum. Carefully measure the replacement to maintain the cookie's delicate texture and prevent crumbling.
• Dairy-Free Adaptation: Replace butter with equal amounts of coconut oil or vegan butter alternatives. These substitutions work beautifully while keeping the rich, deep molasses flavor profile intact.
• Spice Level Control: Adjust the ground ginger and cinnamon quantities to suit personal taste preferences. For bolder flavors, increase spices by 50%; for milder cookies, reduce spice amounts slightly while maintaining the warm, festive essence.

Serving Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies With Style

• Holiday Dessert Platter: Create a festive cookie display with gingerbread crinkle cookies nestled alongside other seasonal treats like peppermint bark, sugar cookies, and chocolate truffles for a stunning presentation.
• Warm Beverage Companion: Pair these spiced cookies with hot mulled cider, creamy eggnog, or rich hot chocolate to enhance their warm, comforting gingerbread flavor profile and create a cozy winter moment.
• Gifting Delights: Package these cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with festive ribbons, or arrange in decorative holiday tins as homemade gifts for neighbors, teachers, or friends who love traditional Christmas baking.
• Dessert Styling Option: Dust cookies with extra powdered sugar just before serving, or garnish with a small candied ginger piece on top to add an elegant touch and boost the spicy-sweet flavor complexity.

Keep Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies Fresh Longer

• Smart Cookie Storage Solutions
• Chilly Dough Tactic: Refrigerate unbaked cookie dough up to 5 days in an airtight container. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap to prevent moisture loss and flavor absorption from other foods.
• Freezer-Friendly Method: Freeze cookie dough balls for up to 3 months. Place uncoated dough balls on a baking sheet, freeze solid, then transfer to freezer bags. Thaw in refrigerator overnight before baking.
• Counter Life Expectancy: Keep baked gingerbread crinkle cookies in a sealed container at room temperature for 4-5 days. Layer between parchment paper to maintain crackle texture and prevent sticking.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare dough 1-2 days before baking for enhanced flavor development. Letting spices meld in refrigeration intensifies the warm, rich gingerbread taste and creates more complex cookie profile.

Festive Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies Recipe

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• Total Time: 2 hours 27 minutes
• Yield: 23 1x

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Description

Irresistible gingerbread crinkle cookies blend warm holiday spices with festive powdered sugar coatings. Christmas baking brings joy as sweet, spicy treats melt in your mouth and spark seasonal memories.

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Ingredients

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• ¾ cup (170 g) unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup (150 g) brown sugar, packed
• ¼ cup (60 ml) molasses
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 ¼ cups (280 g) all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp ground cloves
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ cup (60 g) powdered sugar
• ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar

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Instructions

1. Dry Ingredient Preparation: Combine flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl, whisking thoroughly to distribute spices evenly.
2. Wet Ingredient Fusion: Cream butter and brown sugar until fluffy, then blend in molasses, egg, and vanilla extract until the mixture becomes smooth and homogeneous.
3. Dough Composition: Merge dry and wet ingredients, stirring until just combined. Wrap the dough and refrigerate for 2 hours to enhance flavor profile and firm up the mixture.
4. Preheating and Setup: Heat oven to 350F and line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats for optimal baking conditions.
5. Cookie Formation: Roll chilled dough into small spheres, first coating in granulated sugar, then generously dusting with powdered sugar to create the signature crinkle effect.
6. Baking Process: Place sugar-coated dough balls on prepared sheets, spacing them apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes until edges are set and surfaces develop characteristic crackled appearance.
7. Cooling and Finishing: Let cookies rest on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, allowing them to achieve perfect texture and consistency.

Notes

• Control Moisture Carefully: Keep dough chilled for at least 2 hours to prevent excessive spreading and ensure perfect crinkle texture during baking.
• Sugar Coating Technique: Roll dough balls first in granulated sugar, then heavily coat with powdered sugar to create signature crackled exterior and prevent sticking.
• Spice Balance Matters: Use fresh, high-quality ground spices to enhance the warm, aromatic flavor profile of the gingerbread cookies.
• Bake with Precision: Watch cookies closely during 10-12 minute baking window, aiming for slightly soft centers and crackled surface without over-browning edges.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 2 hours
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 23
• Calories: 120
• Sugar: 9 g
• Sodium: 75 mg
• Fat: 5 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 17 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 1 g
• Cholesterol: 15 mg