How to make gingerbread cookies soft? Find the most useful tips and tricks and a delicious recipe!
I love this time of the year because of all of these delicious recipes with the most aromatic spices! There are a few days left before Christmas, 13 to be exact, so we have to follow some good tradition of making a gingerbread house. If you are like me, and you prefer the homemade cookies, you can bake gingerbread cookies this year as well. I love my cookies crunchy on the outside and soft and gooey on the inside. There are a tips and tricks to follow on how to achieve this texture. How to make gingerbread cookies soft, you make ask? What is my favorite recipe? Keep on reading and you will find out!
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I had my mistake when I first started baking cookies for Christmas. There were a few batches of what I like to call the “thoothbrakers”, and it was rough. It was a long process of learning how much flour is enough, or how much sugar to put in my dough. Finally, I have learned how to make the best soft-on-the-inside gingerbread cookies. Of course, like every other recipe out there, there are a few tricks that you can apply to get the perfect texture. Everybody will love the soft gingerbread cookies on your Christmas dinner, or just as a simple delicious snack. Let’s find out how to make them soft and buttery!
The most important thing when making soft gingerbread cookies is to start early, because they say that with time they get softer and tastier. Also, when you want to achieve the perfect taste don’t compromise on ingredients, always choose the best. What are the key ingredients that will keep your cookies soft?
- Butter – If you are planning on making the cookies before Christmas, use butter because it will soften the cookies, and it will make their taste richer.
- White vinegar – This ingredient will help the cookies to rise and stay soft on the inside. Don’t worry about the flavor since you are going to use just a little bit, and you won’t taste it at the end.
Another great advice is to really be careful with the resting time of the dough. Don’t rush it and let it rest for the right amount of time. When baking them, don’t over bake since the cookies will turn out very crunchy.
Now that you know the right tricks to make your cookies soft, it is time for the recipe. These cookies are easy to make and shape afterwords. You are going to need cookie cutters if you want them to be in the Christmas spirit. They are buttery, spicy and have this sweet taste that we all dream about in the winter months. And speaking of spicy – it’s hard to think of more wintery and festive flavors than those of cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger. To make it easier for you, and to include them more often in your sweets during the winter months, you can make your own all-purpose spice. Simple start mixing equal parts nutmeg, ginger powder, cardamom, star anise and cinnamon in a small jar. Now let’s see the ingredients for this soft gingerbread cookies recipe!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (220 g) butter (it equals to 2 sticks approximately)
- 1 cup (220 g) granulated white sugar
- a large egg
- 1 cup (240 ml) maple syrup or dark molasses
- 2 tablespoons white vinegar
- 5 cups (625 g) all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- a pinch of salt
- 3 teaspoons ginger powder
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
Preparation:
- Star by adding the butter and the sugar together into a large bowl. Use a hand mixer to beat until the mixture is smooth, light and fluffy.
- Now add the egg and the syrup to the mixture. Mix again until everything is combined completely. Add the vinegar and mix again.
- Add the flour, baking soda and all of the spices. You should start getting the dough consistency. It should not be crumbly.
- Using your hands or a knife, divide the dough into two equal parts. Wrap them well with plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator for about 90 minutes. Remember this is a very important step, if you want your cookies to be soft.
- Once your dough is ready, preheat the oven to 350 °F (180 °C).
- Roll both of the parts of the dough, and don’t forget to sprinkle some flour onto the surface. Using your cookie cutters, cut into the shapes you want.
- Place the cookies on a baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes.
- Let the cookies chill for about 10 to 20 minutes before decorating.
It is good to note that this recipe is not suitable for making a gingerbread house, since when you bake it will be soft. You want to avoid this for your gingerbread house. Instead, you can make a beautiful Christmas wreath with the gingerbread cookies as a centerpiece on your table.
How to store the biscuits to keep them soft and chewy?
If you are wondering how to make gingerbread cookies soft, storing them is also a very important step. Once you bake them, you have to absolutely store them properly. If you have a cookie box, carefully place them and close the lid. You can also store them in a jar, if the jar has a lid because you have to close it. This can be a great Christmas gift in a jar idea to make for your friends and family. If they are in a platter or a plate, you can wrap them up with a plastic wrapper.
After you learn how to make gingerbread cookies soft and chewy, decorating them is the most fun thing you can do. If you already cut them in different shapes, this video will spark your imagination with different ideas on how you can make them colorful and more into the Christmas spirit.
Also read: Grandma’s Linzer Cookies Recipe for a Wonderful Christmas!
