Buzz
Image: Fred HardyNot an expert when it comes to cookie decorating? Don’t worry—this gingerbread recipe is perfect for you. The cookies look beautiful but require little to no artistic skill; simply dip the cookies in glaze and sprinkle with sparkling sugar—no piping bags needed.
These cookies are slightly chewy on the inside, with crisp edges, and boast rich brown sugar flavor. A perfect blend of spices like cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cloves brings the holiday warmth, while the zest of lemon in the dough and glaze adds a bright, refreshing twist. The glaze does double duty, keeping the cookies moist and giving them a tender center that’s hard to resist.
This dough is softer than most, so make sure to chill it—don’t skip this step! Also, lightly flour both the parchment paper and the dough while rolling. If the dough becomes too soft, simply place it in the freezer for 5 minutes to firm it up.
Ingredients List
For the Cookies
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1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
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2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
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1/4 cup granulated sugar
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1/2 tsp lemon zest
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1/3 cup unsulfured dark molasses
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1 large egg, at room temperature
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3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling and cutting
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1 Tbsp cornstarch
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2 1/2 tsp ground ginger
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1 1/2 tsp baking powder
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1 tsp ground cinnamon
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1/2 tsp ground allspice
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1/2 tsp ground cloves
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1/2 tsp fine salt
For the Glaze
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1 16-oz package confectioners' sugar
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3 Tbsp light corn syrup
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3 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
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1/4 tsp lemon zest plus 1 Tbsp. fresh juice (from 1 lemon)
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1/4 tsp fine salt
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4 to 6 Tbsp milk, divided
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1 cup sparkling sugar
Instructions
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Prepare the cookies: In a large bowl, beat together the butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and lemon zest using an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the molasses and egg, and beat on medium speed until fully combined, around 20 to 30 seconds.
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In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, ginger, baking powder, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and salt. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, beating until everything is well combined, about 1 to 2 minutes (the dough will be soft). Divide the dough in half and form each into a disk. Wrap the disks in plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 90 minutes, or until firm. (The dough can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.)
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Preheat your oven to 325°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll out one disk of dough between two sheets of lightly floured parchment paper until it is 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick, lightly flouring the top of the dough as needed. Transfer the dough, along with the parchment paper, to a third baking sheet and freeze for about 15 minutes until firm. Remove from the freezer and use a lightly floured 3 3/4-inch star cutter to cut out the cookies. Place the stars about 3/4 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Re-roll, cut, and refrigerate scraps as necessary. Repeat with the second dough disk.
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Bake the cookies until they are set, slightly darker in color, and the centers spring back when gently pressed, about 15 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely, around 30 minutes.
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Prepare the glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk together the confectioners’ sugar, corn syrup, butter, lemon zest and juice, salt, and 4 tablespoons of milk until smooth. Add up to 2 more tablespoons of milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until the glaze drips off in a ribbon and takes 8 to 10 seconds to blend back into the mixture.
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Pour the sparkling sugar onto a large rimmed plate. Dip the top of one cooled cookie into the glaze, letting any excess drip off. Quickly flip the cookie over, glaze side up, and generously sprinkle it with sparkling sugar until the glaze is completely covered. Repeat with the remaining cookies, glaze, and sparkling sugar. Let the cookies sit on the baking sheets for about 4 hours until the glaze is fully set. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
These cookies are sure to sparkle in any gift box! Choose any color sparkling sugar to add your personal touch.
Nutritional Information (per serving)
| 202 | Calories |
| 6g | Fat |
| 36g | Carbs |
| 2g | Protein |
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings Per Recipe 36 | |
| Calories 202 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat 6g | 8% |
| Saturated Fat 4g | 19% |
| Cholesterol 21mg | 7% |
| Sodium 77mg | 3% |
| Total Carbohydrate 36g | 13% |
| Dietary Fiber 0g | 1% |
| Total Sugars 26g | |
| Protein 2g | 3% |
| Vitamin C 0mg | 0% |
| Calcium 30mg | 2% |
| Iron 1mg | 4% |
| Potassium 72mg | 2% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
