






Here's a little trick for making hair from Martha:



These gingerbread scotties could not be easier. A little collar, a little spring of holly...voila! Gingerbread Scottie Dog.

{{update 2012: while I still *love* this recipe, I developed a NEW one that I love even more for my book Decorating Cookies. It's spicy & chewy, but with a smoother top for decorating. I think you'll love it. Click the link to go to the book.}}
Gingerbread Cookies
(modified from Southern Living Incredible Cookies
1/4 c. water
1 & 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 c. molasses
1 c. butter
1 c. sugar
5 c. unbleached, all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. coarse salt
1 & 1/2 TBSP ground ginger
1/2 tsp. allspice
1 & 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
Line baking sheets with parchment.
Stir together the water and baking soda until dissolved. Stir in the molasses; set aside.
Beat butter & sugar until fluffy and combined.
Whisk together flour, salt and spices.
Add to the butter mixture, alternating with the molasses mixture. Begin and end with the flour. Form dough into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and chill 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350.
On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 1/4 inch thickness. Cut with a floured cookie cutter and place on baking sheet. Freeze for 5 minutes before baking. {They are going to spread.}
Bake 10- 12 minutes (for a large shape). Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet, then transfer to cooling rack. Cool completely before decorating with royal icing.

What are you waiting for?!? Go make 'em!!
They look fabulous!
ReplyDeleteThese are so much fun! Great outfits :)
ReplyDeleteThese are adorable! I was planning on making gingerbread cookies tomorrow, thanks for sharing the best recipe ever!
ReplyDeleteyour cookies are so cute!
ReplyDeleteAw haha they look super cute! They look really delicious & chewy too, thanks for the recipe(:
ReplyDeleteThese are definitely by far the most fashionable gingerbread men and girls I've ever seen!! Sooooooo cute♥
ReplyDeletexoxo
Ai
Ooooh, those look so cute! I found your blog through PW and love and want to make everything on it!!! I put baking stuff on my Christmas wishlist and my husband thinks I'm a little nutty...probably because I never bake:) But what can I say, I'm inspired!
ReplyDeleteThey look wonderful!
ReplyDeleteSo, so cute!!! Love the smell of gingerbread, bet your home smells so good right now!
ReplyDeleteI love these, I really want to work on my cut out cookies
ReplyDeletePerfect, I have been searching for a good gingerbread cookie recipe! I have added this to my list this week :D It's going to be a cookie factory over here!
ReplyDeleteI *really* hope these are for NEIGHBOR GIFTS.
ReplyDelete:)
Oh, get out! That hair making trick is too cool! Love those ginger-pups! :)
ReplyDeleteThese are too cute! Great tip about the hair/garlic press! :)
ReplyDeleteSo darn cute! Love the little guy in what looks like Lederhosen and the little gal with the red heels on! The Scottie dogs are adorable in their simplicity.
ReplyDeleteI have a favourite gingerbread recipe too but I'm always up for something new. This one looks wonderful and definitely one I'll try. Every recipe I've ever made from your site has never failed me :)
HAHA that was cute! have a wonderfully blessed Christmas!
ReplyDeleteOMG these guys are so cute!! Love them!!!
ReplyDeletehi bridget!
ReplyDeletethese are super cute! you are a master & very creative!
& thanks for the martha tip…very clever!!
Utterly cute and thanks for sharing the recipe!
ReplyDeletecutest gingerbread cookies i have ever seen!
ReplyDeleteThese are just TOO cute!!...... and I love all the "couples" haha
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the recipe.....I really want to squeeze in gingerbread cookies yet this year!....wanna come help?
These are the best!!! Mike and I both fought Mac for the rest of his!
ReplyDeleteyea! i was looking for a recipe and saw MS's and hers had too many freezing steps..made me not even want to attempt them for the kids...
ReplyDeletecan't wait to whip these up pronto!
only problem...don't want to eat the cute ppl! haha
SO CUTE, Bridget! Love the variety, and the red/white!
ReplyDeleteMy husband is a gingerbread fanatic, and these are just too adorable NOT to make! I am feeling forced to make them!!!! We will be munching on these for Christmas, yay!!! :)
ReplyDeleteBridget, I made this very gingerbread recipe this week and confirm, it's the best. Extra spicy and little to no spread when baked. Thanks for the great idea on the hair!
ReplyDeleteIt's like eHarmony for cookies over here.
ReplyDeleteSeriously laughed out loud.
Love it all!
Blessings-
Amanda
Yum! Those are so cute.
ReplyDeleteSooo Cute and they look super easy :)
ReplyDeleteThese are so adorable! Yesterday my son and I made a batch of Gingerbread Play Dough and now we're ready to make the real thing!
ReplyDeleteSo cute! I love gingerbread cookies! Thanks for a great recipe. Happy Holidays! :)
ReplyDeleteLove the gingerbread pups! So cute.
ReplyDeleteLOVE them all so much!!! Each one so cute in their unique way!!
ReplyDeleteI have SOOOO been needing a gingerbread recipe, so I am all over this.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the white dress with the red stripe was my personal favorite!! SOOO cute!! :)
Yum, yum, yum! All this week I've been hunting down recipes for Christmas parties. This will be perfect, Bridget! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSo cute Bridget!Love the idea of a garlic press to make the hair!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely adorable Bridget - and using a garlic press for the hair? BRILLIANT!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a gingerbread fan, but these make me want to try it again! Scary-I was coupling them up too :) Maybe fashion design is in your future too!
ReplyDeleteThose are about as cute as cute can be!
ReplyDeleteThose are AWESOME!!! I don't see any CHOCOLATE on them though! :)))))
ReplyDeleteOh, they're adorable! I love your gingerbread girl's outfit.
ReplyDeleteI am going to try this recipe out tomorrow! I love gingerbread and have been looking for a good recipe for nice, chewy cookies. YUM! How many cookies does this make?
ReplyDeleteHow adorable! I was planning to try your royal icing with my gingerbread cookies this year, but now I am going to use your recipe, as well. Wish me luck! Royal icing and I typically don't get along.
ReplyDeleteKirsten
These are the most fabulous looking gingerbread cookies I've ever seen! I love them, Bridget!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, her outfit is completely enviable. I'm with ya on that one!
They are very fetching!! I am going to try making them tomorrow...I can't wait to be a fashion designer for the day!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing!
LOVE these and the garlic press idea is genius!
ReplyDeleteThese are absolutely adorable!! Your creativity never ceases to amaze me :)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE these! My daughter wants to make gingerbread people in the worst way, and I had a couple flopped attempts. I'll have to give this a shot!
ReplyDeleteYUM! Besides sounding delicious (soft, chewy, spicy??) these cookies are adorable! I'm featuring you on my blog today & linking back to this recipe. I'm a follower now too :)
ReplyDeleteMy daughter, niece, and I made these and you're right about how good they are! We also piped some cute little outfits on them, which makes them even "funner." I'm really enjoying your blog!
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing wrong in pairing gingerbread couples. They are so cute!!
ReplyDeleteVery cute cookies! I love the "eHarmony for cookies"...too funny!
ReplyDeleteMy 8yr old daughter and I made these for Santa (and for us of course). We don't quite have the hang of using royal icing yet, but they were super yummy and made alot!
ReplyDeletegood post
ReplyDeletelove this blog thanks
ReplyDeleteChristmas Dinner recipe
I agree - this is the best gingerbread recipe I have ever used. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteNothing says Christmas like the sights and smells of gingerbread cookies. Yours are as cute as always.
ReplyDeleteLove the red and white theme.
Hey! sorry if my question is silly but... What's the purpose of adding water to the baking soda? Is it different when the baking soda is simply added to the dry ingredients?
ReplyDeleteBtw your cookies look awesome :D they have style
Greetings from Mexico ^^
Hi Bridget! You have THE BEST gingerbread cookie dough EVER...so awesome that I want to make it in spring :) I know this recipe makes a lot of dough, do you know if its ok to freeze? I know I could cut the batch in 1/2 but what about freezing??
ReplyDeleteThank you!!!!