Hey, what’s up folks?! ;) Still baking for Christmas or did you finish already? I mean Christmas cookies. If not – you know #CookieFriday turns into #ChristmasCookieFriday in December, so get ready for some nice cookies especially decorated for Christmas! It took a bit longer this time, so I had some time to listen to Christmas music and had one or maybe two mulled wines while working… exactly what you should do, when baking and decorating Gingerbread Christmas Cookies ;P
To be honest, I was done already with all of the cookie baking last week. I made a lot and most of them should last until Christmas. I might have to make another batch of cinnamon stars, cause they are very popular, but that’s it I think. Well, and these gingerbread cookies came up spontaneously – they were a request by my bf because we did not bake “Ausstecherle” this year. Ausstecherle are easy biscuit cookies which are decorated with sugar glaze and sprinkles etc. We like to make them and decorate them together, cause it’s fun. This year I had to come up with something else, so we could still decorate something together ;)
These cookies are easy to prepare and bake quickly – decorating them takes a bit time. Grab a friend or family member, some mulled wine or punch and get cozy with some nice Christmas music. It is really nice to spend an afternoon like this ;) Thanks to a new gadget in our kitchen all of this was even better. We have a new “intelligent” speaker in the kitchen called Sonos One* – host of the almighty Alexa :P
Sonos was so kind to send us this little beauty. The Sonos One speaker is the latest speaker in the Sonos family and now a new family member in our house. We are a “Songs family” for quite some time already. Every room has a speaker now and soon our tv will hopefully get a little Sonos friend as well… let’s see ;)
The new Sonos One has Amazon’s Alexa on board, that voice-activated assistant that makes your life easier… most of the time ;) The speakers are updated on a regular basis – I think next year they will be able to work with Google’s assistant too. Well… playing music couldn’t be easier with this kind of speakers. Just talk to Alexa and tell her to play your Spotify Playlist or let her search for music you like – all without even touching the speaker, a computer or mobile… all hands-free. Free to decorate your cookies… I can even turn on the lights now with my Sonos One and Alexa (and of course the lights, that connect wirelessly with my smart home system)… it all comes together now ;) So if it gets dark in your kitchen, cause it takes longer for you to decorate the cookies, just tell Sonos and Alexa to turn on the lights. The only thing none of them can do – refill your cup of mulled wine. You still have to do that yourself :P
I made a playlist of my favorite Christmas songs I listen to when baking Christmas cookies in my kitchen. You can listen to that one too if you follow it. If you are not in Christmas mood, this will help you for sure ;)
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Shall we play “Last Christmas” now?!
INGREDIENTS / ZUTATEN
For the dough:
3/4 cup (170g) butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup (100g) brown sugar
1 large egg
1.5 oz. (45g) molasses
1 tbsp. honey
3 1/4 cups (420g) all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt
For the icing:
2 cups (260g) confectioners’ sugar
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
2-3 tbsp. milk
Für den Teig:
170g weiche Butter
100g brauner Zucker
1 Ei (L)
45g Melasse
1 EL Honig
420g Mehl (Type 405)
1 TL Natron
1 EL Zimt, gemahlen
1 TL Ingwer, gemahlen
1/2 TL Nelken, gemahlen
1/2 TL Muskatnuss, gemahlen
1/2 TL Salz
Für das Icing:
260g Puderzucker
1/4 TL Vanille Extrakt
2-3 EL Milch
DIRECTIONS / ZUBEREITUNG
2. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a baking sheet with baking parchment and set aside. Roll out half of the dough on a floured surface to a thickness of about 0.12 inches (3mm). Use the cookie cutters you like the most and cut out different shapes, place on the baking sheet and bake for about 8 minutes. Take out of the oven, transfer to a wire rack and let cool down. Repeat with remaining dough until all is gone.
3. Mix the confectioners’ sugar with the vanilla extract, gradually add the milk until the icing has a thick but not too runny consistency. Fill into a piping bag, cut off the corner just a bit so only a small amount of icing can get out. Decorate the cookies and let dry completely.
2. Den Ofen auf 180°C (350°F) vorheizen. Ein Backblech mit Backpapier auslegen und zur Seite stellen. Die Hälfte des Teiges auf einer bemehlten Fläche etwa 3mm (0.2 inches) dick ausrollen. Mit verschiedenen Keksausstechern Kekse ausstechen und auf das Blech legen. Für etwa 8 Minuten backen, herausnehmen und auf einem Kuchengitter auskühlen lassen. Den restlichen Teig erneut ausrollen und weitere Kekse ausstechen und backen, bis der Teig komplett verbraucht ist.
3. Den Puderzucker für das Icing mit dem Vanille Extrakt verrühren und dann nach und nach Milch zugeben und unterrühren, bis die Konsistenz passt – das Icing sollte nicht zu dünn sein. In einen Spritzbeutel füllen, eine kleine Ecke abschneiden (es sollte nicht viel Icing rauskommen) und dann die Kekse verzieren und komplett trocknen lassen.
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Here is a version of the recipe you can print easily.
Gingerbread Xmas Cookies
- Prep Time: 60
- Cook Time: 8
- Total Time: 240
- Yield: 40 1x
Description
Cute and delicious Gingerbread Christmas cookies. Easy dough and icing. All you need for some nice cookies!
Ingredients
For the dough
- 3/4 cup (170g) butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup (100g) brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1.5 oz. (45g) molasses
- 1 tbsp. honey
- 3 1/4 cups (420g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp. ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp. salt
For the icing
- 2 cups (260g) confectioners’ sugar
- 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2-3 tbsp. milk
Instructions
- Add the butter and sugar to a large bowl and mix until light and fluffy. Add the egg and mix until well combined. Add the molasses and honey and mix in. Mix the flour with baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and salt in a second bowl. Add to the bowl in 2-3 batches and mix in. When the dough starts coming together, use your hands to knead the dough until you get a nice, smooth dough. Form a ball, flatten and wrap in plastic wrap. Place in the fridge for about 3 hours or overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a baking sheet with baking parchment and set aside. Roll out half of the dough on a floured surface to a thickness of about 0.12 inches (3mm). Use the cookie cutters you like the most and cut out different shapes, place on the baking sheet and bake for about 8 minutes. Take out of the oven, transfer to a wire rack and let cool down. Repeat with remaining dough until all is gone.
- Mix the confectioners’ sugar with the vanilla extract, gradually add the milk until the icing has a thick but not too runny consistency. Fill into a piping bag, cut off the corner just a bit so only a small amount of icing can get out. Decorate the cookies and let dry completely.
Notes
- Enjoy baking!
*I have partnered with Sonos to bring you these delicious Christmas cookies. That is why I have to declare this here in Germany as Advertising. All I wrote in this article is still based on my own opinion and has not been affected by anybody :)
Hi. Should I use light or dark brown sugar? light or dark molasses? Thanks.
Hi,
in Germany, we do not differentiate between light and dark sugar/molasses – there is basically only version of each available. I don’t know if that would be considered light or dark somewhere else… So I guess you have to chose yourself how intense you want the flavors to be…
Cheers
Marc