Zesty Gingerbread Cookies with Lemon Frosting Recipe – Holiday Joy

Sweet aromas of warm spices and zesty lemon swirl through the kitchen when you bake these delightful gingerbread cookies with lemon frosting.

Holiday traditions come alive with every crisp, golden-edged cookie that emerges from the oven.

The classic gingerbread gets a bright, tangy twist with a delicate lemon frosting that dances across each perfectly spiced treat.

Rich molasses and ground ginger create a deep, complex flavor profile that’s both comforting and exciting.

Delicate, yet robust, these cookies strike a perfect balance between traditional warmth and modern brightness.

Soft edges, crisp centers, and a glossy lemon glaze make these cookies an irresistible seasonal delight that will have everyone reaching for seconds.

Frosted Cookie Plating for Holidays

• Pair with Holiday Cheer: Serve these gingerbread cookies alongside a warm mug of spiced apple cider or hot cocoa for a festive winter treat that warms both hands and heart.
• Create Cookie Gift Packages: Stack cookies carefully in clear cellophane bags, tie with a festive ribbon, and give as delightful homemade gifts during Christmas or winter gatherings.
• Design Dessert Platter: Arrange cookies on a decorative holiday plate with small sprigs of fresh mint or rosemary for an elegant presentation that makes your dessert spread look professionally styled.
• Enjoy with Afternoon Tea: These lemon-frosted gingerbread cookies complement afternoon tea perfectly, offering a delicate balance of spicy warmth and bright citrus notes that refresh the palate.

Cookie Storage Tips Post-Frosting

• Store Smartly: Keep cookies in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 5 days, ensuring maximum freshness and flavor.
• Freeze for Later: Wrap unfrosted cookies tightly in plastic wrap, then place in freezer bags. They'll stay delicious for 3 months, ready whenever you want a sweet treat.
• Frosting Tips: Spread lemon cream cheese frosting just before serving to maintain the cookie's crisp texture and prevent soggy bottoms.
• Refrigeration Strategy: If not consuming immediately, store frosted cookies in the refrigerator. Let them sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before enjoying to enhance their taste and softness.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Calories: 150 kcal

Servings: 22

Gingerbread Cookies with Lemon Frosting – What’s Inside

• Butter: Adds rich, creamy texture and helps create a tender, melt-in-your-mouth cookie with golden edges.
• Brown Sugar: Provides deep caramel notes and moisture, ensuring soft and chewy gingerbread.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients together and contribute to the cookie's structure and richness.
• Molasses: Delivers classic gingerbread flavor with its deep, robust sweetness and dark color.

• All-Purpose Flour: Creates the fundamental structure of the cookie, ensuring perfect crumbly texture.
• Ground Ginger: Brings warm, spicy kick that defines traditional gingerbread flavor.
• Baking Soda: Helps cookies rise and spread evenly, creating light and crisp edges.
• Ground Allspice: Adds complexity with subtle warmth and aromatic depth.
• Ground Cardamom: Introduces exotic, slightly sweet undertones that complement ginger.
• Ground Cinnamon: Provides classic warming spice and enhances overall cookie flavor.
• Lemon Zest: Adds bright, citrusy note to balance the warm spices.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances all other flavor profiles.

• Cream Cheese: Creates smooth, tangy base for creamy frosting.
• Confectioners' Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps stabilize frosting.
• Lemon Zest: Introduces fresh, zesty brightness.
• Lemon Juice: Adds sharp citrus tang and helps thin frosting.
• Vanilla Extract: Rounds out flavors with subtle, sweet undertone.

Rolling Tools and Piping Tips for Frosted Cookies

• Electric mixer: Essential for creaming butter, beating eggs, and mixing frosting smoothly.
• Large mixing bowls: Needed for combining dry ingredients and creaming butter mixture.
• Whisk: Perfect for evenly blending dry ingredients without lumps.
• Baking sheets: Crucial for baking cookies evenly and preventing sticking.
• Wire cooling rack: Helps cookies cool completely and maintain crisp texture.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Ensures precise ingredient quantities for consistent results.
• Spatula: Useful for scraping bowl sides and spreading frosting evenly.

How to Make Gingerbread with a Citrus Twist

• Dough Preparation

Mix softened butter with rich brown sugar until the texture becomes airy and cloud-like. Incorporate eggs and dark molasses, creating a smooth foundation for your cookies.

• Dry Ingredient Fusion

Combine flour with warm spices like ginger, allspice, cardamom, and cinnamon. Add a zesty touch of lemon zest and a pinch of salt to elevate the flavor profile.

• Cookie Shaping

Roll the dough into small, uniform spheres. Arrange them gracefully on baking sheets, allowing space between each delightful cookie nugget.

• Baking Magic

Slide the cookie sheet into a preheated oven. Watch as the tops develop delicate cracks, signaling their readiness. Remove after 8-10 minutes, letting them rest briefly before transferring to cooling racks.

• Lemon Frosting Creation

Whip cream cheese until it becomes silky smooth. Blend in powdered sugar, bright lemon zest, tangy lemon juice, and a splash of vanilla. Generously coat each cooled cookie with this vibrant frosting.

• Storage

Preserve these delectable treats in a sealed container in the refrigerator, ensuring maximum freshness and flavor retention.

Festive Additions and Flavor Switch-Ups

• Refrigerate the cookie dough for 30 minutes before shaping to prevent spreading and enhance flavor development.
• Adjust the ground ginger and spices to match your personal taste preferences, creating a more intense or milder gingerbread experience.
• Transform the recipe by rolling out the dough and using festive cookie cutters for holiday-themed shapes instead of ball-shaped cookies.
• Prepare the cookie dough up to 3 days in advance and store in the refrigerator, or freeze for up to 1 month for convenient baking.
• Experiment with decorating techniques by piping the lemon frosting, using different tips, or adding colorful sprinkles for a more festive look.

Vibrant Gingerbread Cookies

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.9 from 29 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 22 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Festive gingerbread cookies with lemon frosting showcase holiday cheer with classic spices and zesty citrus tang. Crisp edges and sweet-tangy glaze invite bakers to create memorable seasonal treats.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2–½ cups (590 ml) confectioners’ sugar
• 4 oz (113 g) cream cheese, softened
• 1 tbsp lemon zest, grated
• 2 tbsps lemon juice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Preparation: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and create a clean, organized baking station.
2. Creaming: Whip softened butter and brown sugar until light, fluffy, and pale using an electric mixer for 5-7 minutes.
3. Wet Ingredients: Blend eggs and molasses into the butter mixture until fully incorporated and smooth.
4. Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, thoroughly combine flour, ground ginger, baking soda, allspice, cardamom, cinnamon, lemon zest, and salt.
5. Dough Formation: Gradually fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients, mixing until a uniform cookie dough develops.
6. Shaping and Baking: Roll dough into 1-inch spheres, place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets, and bake for 8-10 minutes until surfaces crack slightly.
7. Cooling: Let cookies rest on baking sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
8. Frosting Preparation: Whip cream cheese until light and fluffy, then incorporate confectioners’ sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until smooth and spreadable.
9. Finishing: Liberally frost each cooled cookie with the lemon cream cheese mixture.
10. Storage: Preserve frosted cookies in an airtight refrigerated container to maintain optimal freshness.

Notes

• Chill Dough for Better Shape: Refrigerate cookie dough for 30 minutes before rolling to prevent spreading and maintain precise cookie shapes during baking.
• Measure Spices Accurately: Use level measuring spoons for spices to ensure balanced flavor without overwhelming the delicate gingerbread profile.
• Room Temperature Ingredients Matter: Allow butter, eggs, and cream cheese to sit at room temperature for smoother mixing and superior texture.
• Frost Only When Completely Cool: Ensure cookies are entirely cooled before applying lemon frosting to prevent melting and maintain crisp, clean decoration.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 22
• Calories: 150
• Sugar: 23 g
• Sodium: 50 mg
• Fat: 5 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 25 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 1 g
• Cholesterol: 15 mg