Adorable Frosted Gingerbread Friends are a delightful and festive treat perfect for spreading holiday cheer. These spiced gingerbread cookies are shaped into charming little people and decorated with colorful royal icing to bring their playful personalities to life. With their warm, cozy flavors of ginger, cinnamon, and molasses, they’re as delicious as they are cute.
I first made these cookies during a family holiday baking session, and decorating them turned into a joyous activity filled with laughter and creativity. Each gingerbread friend came to life with unique expressions and outfits, making them almost too cute to eat—almost!
What I love most about this recipe is how fun and interactive it is. You can keep the decorations simple with classic frosting and buttons or go all out with intricate designs, sprinkles, and candies. These cookies also make wonderful edible gifts or ornaments for the tree. Adorable Frosted Gingerbread Friends are a festive favorite that brings warmth, sweetness, and smiles to any holiday celebration!
Perfect for:
- Holiday parties
- Gift-giving
- Christmas celebrations
- Cookie exchanges
- Gingerbread lovers
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Here are 10 reasons why Adorable Frosted Gingerbread Friends will be your new favorite holiday cookie:
- Warm Spice Blend: A perfect balance of ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg creates the ultimate cozy flavor.
- Fun to Decorate: Decorating these cookies with frosting and sprinkles adds an extra layer of fun to your holiday baking.
- Cute and Festive: These cookies are irresistibly adorable, making them perfect for gift-giving and sharing with friends and family.
- Soft and Chewy Texture: The gingerbread cookies are soft and chewy, with a slight crisp around the edges for the perfect bite.
- Versatile Decoration: You can get creative with the frosting, using different colors and designs to personalize each cookie.
- Family-Friendly: Kids will love both baking and decorating these cookies, making them a great activity for the whole family.
- Make-Ahead Option: The dough can be prepared in advance and stored in the fridge, making it easier to bake on the day of your event.
- Gift-Worthy: Package these cookies in a cute box or tin for a sweet, homemade gift.
- Holiday Tradition: These gingerbread cookies are a great way to start a new holiday tradition with your loved ones.
- Customizable Shape: Use different cookie cutters to make a variety of fun shapes for your gingerbread friends.
Preparation and Cooking Time
- Total Time: 3 hours (including cooling time)
- Preparation Time: 30 minutes
- Cooking Time: 10-12 minutes
- Cooling Time: 2.5 hours
- Servings: 24 cookies
- Calories per cookie: Approximately 120-150 calories
- Key Nutrients: Protein: 1g, Carbs: 20g, Fat: 5g
Ingredients
For the Gingerbread Cookies:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Royal Icing:
- 1 egg white (or 1 tablespoon meringue powder)
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Garnishes:
- Sprinkles
- Colored sugar
- Candied eyes
Ingredient Highlights
- Molasses: Adds a deep, rich flavor and contributes to the chewy texture of the cookies.
- Spices: Ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg are the heart of the flavor profile, providing warmth and depth.
- Royal Icing: This smooth, sweet icing is perfect for decorating and hardens quickly for easy handling.
- Egg Whites: Used in the royal icing for a shiny finish and to create a stable frosting.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Make the Gingerbread Dough:
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
- Add Egg and Molasses: Beat in the egg and molasses until well combined. Add the vanilla extract and mix.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms.
- Chill Dough: Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up.
Roll and Cut the Cookies:
- Roll Out Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled dough to about ¼-inch thick.
- Cut Shapes: Use gingerbread man-shaped cookie cutters to cut out the cookies. Place them on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake: Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned. Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack.
Prepare the Royal Icing:
- Make Icing: In a medium bowl, beat egg whites (or meringue powder) with powdered sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form.
- Color the Icing: Divide the icing into small bowls and add food coloring to create different colors for decorating.
Decorate the Cookies:
- Pipe Icing: Use a piping bag to pipe outlines and designs onto the cooled cookies. You can also use a small spoon to spread icing on the cookies.
- Add Garnishes: Decorate with sprinkles, colored sugar, or candied eyes for extra flair.
- Let Set: Allow the icing to harden for at least 1 hour before serving or packaging.
Serve:
- Serve and Enjoy: Arrange the adorable gingerbread friends on a platter or in a festive gift box to share with friends and family.
How to Serve
Here are 10 serving suggestions for Adorable Frosted Gingerbread Friends:
- As a Holiday Gift: Package them in a cute gift box or tin and give them to friends and family.
- At a Cookie Exchange: Bring a batch to your next holiday cookie exchange for a festive treat.
- For a Christmas Party: Serve these cookies as a fun and delicious snack at your holiday gatherings.
- With Hot Chocolate: Enjoy these cookies alongside a warm mug of hot chocolate or eggnog for a cozy treat.
- As a Decorating Activity: Let kids decorate their own gingerbread friends as part of a holiday activity.
- For a Cookie Platter: Include these cookies on a festive cookie platter alongside other holiday favorites.
- As Stocking Stuffers: Place them in stockings for a sweet surprise.
- At a Holiday Bake Sale: Sell these adorable cookies at a holiday bake sale to raise funds for charity.
- As a Festive Treat for Work: Bring a batch to the office to share some holiday cheer.
- As a Holiday Tradition: Make baking and decorating these gingerbread friends an annual holiday tradition with your loved ones.
Additional Tips
- Chill the Dough: Make sure to chill the dough before rolling out to prevent it from being too sticky and difficult to work with.
- Thin Icing for Detailing: If your royal icing is too thick, add a small amount of water to thin it out for finer details.
- Store in an Airtight Container: Keep your decorated cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
- Mixing Colors: Use gel food coloring for vibrant, long-lasting colors in your icing.
Recipe Variations
- Chocolate Gingerbread: Add ¼ cup cocoa powder to the dough for a chocolate twist.
- Gluten-Free Gingerbread: Use a gluten-free flour blend for the cookie base.
- Vegan Gingerbread: Replace the egg with a flax egg and use dairy-free butter.
- Spiced Gingerbread: Add a pinch of ground cloves or allspice for a deeper spice flavor.
- Lemon Icing: Use lemon juice in the royal icing for a citrusy twist.
- Cranberry Gingerbread Friends: Add dried cranberries to the dough for a tart contrast.
- Coconut Gingerbread: Decorate with shredded coconut for a tropical variation.
Special Equipment
- Cookie Cutters: For creating fun shapes like gingerbread men, stars, or hearts.
- Piping Bags: For decorating cookies with precision.
- Rolling Pin: For rolling the dough to the perfect thickness.
- Cooling Rack: To allow cookies to cool completely before decorating.
- Electric Mixer: For beating the butter, sugar, and icing ingredients.
- Baking Sheets: For holding the cookies while baking.
FAQ Section
- Can I freeze the gingerbread dough?
Yes, you can freeze the dough for up to 2 months. Thaw it in the fridge overnight before rolling and baking. - How long do these cookies last?
The cookies will stay fresh for up to 1 week in an airtight container. - Can I use store-bought frosting?
Yes, store-bought frosting can be used for decorating, but homemade royal icing works best for a smooth finish. - Can I make these cookies ahead of time?
Yes, you can bake and decorate these cookies in advance. Just store them in a cool, dry place. - How do I prevent the cookies from spreading too much while baking?
Be sure to chill the dough thoroughly before baking to keep the cookies from spreading. - Can I use a different kind of icing?
You can substitute royal icing with buttercream frosting, but royal icing hardens better for decoration. - How can I make the icing colors brighter?
Use gel food coloring, which produces more vibrant colors compared to liquid food coloring. - What’s the best way to store these decorated cookies?
Store them in an airtight container, separating layers with parchment paper to avoid smudging the icing. - Can I make these cookies without molasses?
You can substitute molasses with honey or maple syrup, though it will change the flavor slightly. - How can I make these cookies even more festive?
Add edible glitter or festive sprinkles to the royal icing for extra sparkle.
Conclusion
Adorable Frosted Gingerbread Friends are the perfect holiday treat to bake and share with loved ones. With their delicious blend of spices and cute, customizable decorations, these cookies will be a hit at any holiday gathering. Whether you’re baking them for a festive party or gifting them to friends and family, these gingerbread cookies are sure to spread joy and sweetness this holiday season.