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
- 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
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and create a clean, organized baking station.
- Creaming: Whip softened butter and brown sugar until light, fluffy, and pale using an electric mixer for 5-7 minutes.
- Wet Ingredients: Blend eggs and molasses into the butter mixture until fully incorporated and smooth.
- Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, thoroughly combine flour, ground ginger, baking soda, allspice, cardamom, cinnamon, lemon zest, and salt.
- Dough Formation: Gradually fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients, mixing until a uniform cookie dough develops.
- 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.
- Cooling: Let cookies rest on baking sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
- Frosting Preparation: Whip cream cheese until light and fluffy, then incorporate confectioners’ sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until smooth and spreadable.
- Finishing: Liberally frost each cooled cookie with the lemon cream cheese mixture.
- 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