Gingerbread cookies are more than just a holiday treat — they’re a warm, spiced tradition loved across the world. Whether you enjoy them soft and chewy, crisp and snappy, iced, stuffed, vegan, or gluten-free, gingerbread cookies bring comfort, nostalgia, and irresistible flavor to every bite.
In this complete guide, you’ll discover 21 gingerbread cookies recipes, each unique, easy to follow, and perfect for home bakers. These recipes are ideal for Christmas baking, festive gifting, or cozy evenings with a cup of tea.
1. Classic Gingerbread Cookies
Ingredients:
Flour, butter, brown sugar, molasses, egg, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda
Instructions:
Cream butter and sugar. Add molasses and egg. Mix dry ingredients separately, combine, chill dough, roll, cut, and bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes.
2. Soft Chewy Gingerbread Cookies
Ingredients:
All-purpose flour, butter, brown sugar, molasses, egg yolk, ginger, nutmeg
Instructions:
Use extra brown sugar and an egg yolk for softness. Bake slightly underdone for a chewy center.
3. Crispy Gingerbread Snap Cookies
Ingredients:
Flour, granulated sugar, molasses, butter, ginger, cinnamon
Instructions:
Roll dough thin and bake longer until edges are deep golden and crisp.
4. Iced Gingerbread Cookies
Ingredients:
Classic gingerbread dough + powdered sugar, egg whites, lemon juice
Instructions:
Bake cookies, cool completely, then decorate with royal icing.
5. Gingerbread Men Cookies
Ingredients:
Traditional gingerbread dough
Instructions:
Cut dough with gingerbread man cutters. Decorate with icing buttons and faces.
6. Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies
Ingredients:
Flour, cocoa powder, butter, brown sugar, molasses, ginger
Instructions:
Add cocoa powder to dry ingredients for a rich chocolate flavor.
7. Gingerbread Sandwich Cookies
Ingredients:
Gingerbread cookies + cream cheese frosting
Instructions:
Sandwich frosting between two baked cookies.
8. Vegan Gingerbread Cookies
Ingredients:
Flour, coconut oil, brown sugar, molasses, almond milk
Instructions:
Replace butter with oil and egg with plant milk. Bake as usual.
9. Gluten-Free Gingerbread Cookies
Ingredients:
Gluten-free flour blend, butter, brown sugar, molasses
Instructions:
Chill dough well to prevent spreading before baking.
10. Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies
Ingredients:
Soft gingerbread dough, powdered sugar
Instructions:
Roll dough balls in powdered sugar before baking to create crinkles.
11. Spiced Orange Gingerbread Cookies
Ingredients:
Gingerbread dough + orange zest
Instructions:
Mix zest into dough for citrus aroma.
12. Maple Gingerbread Cookies
Ingredients:
Flour, butter, maple syrup, molasses, spices
Instructions:
Replace some sugar with maple syrup for deep flavor.
13. Gingerbread Thumbprint Cookies
Ingredients:
Gingerbread dough, jam
Instructions:
Press thumb into dough balls and fill with jam before baking.
14. White Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies
Ingredients:
Gingerbread dough, white chocolate chips
Instructions:
Fold chocolate chips into the dough before baking.
15. Espresso Gingerbread Cookies
Ingredients:
Gingerbread dough, instant espresso powder
Instructions:
Add espresso powder for bold, grown-up flavor.
16. Gingerbread Biscotti Cookies
Ingredients:
Flour, eggs, sugar, molasses, ginger
Instructions:
Bake the loaf, slice, and bake again for crunchy biscotti.
17. Stuffed Gingerbread Cookies
Ingredients:
Gingerbread dough, caramel, or Nutella
Instructions:
Wrap dough around filling and bake until golden.
18. Almond Gingerbread Cookies
Ingredients:
Flour, almond flour, butter, spices
Instructions:
Replace part of the flour with almond flour for a nutty taste.
19. Lemon Gingerbread Cookies
Ingredients:
Gingerbread dough, lemon zest, lemon glaze
Instructions:
Drizzle lemon glaze over cooled cookies.
20. No-Chill Gingerbread Cookies
Ingredients:
Flour, butter, sugar, molasses, spices
Instructions:
Use slightly more flour to avoid chilling the dough.
21. Double Ginger Gingerbread Cookies
Ingredients:
Flour, butter, molasses, ground ginger, crystallized ginger
Instructions:
Mix chopped crystallized ginger into dough for extra spice.
Final Thoughts on 21 Gingerbread Cookies
These 21 gingerbread cookies recipes cover every style — from classic and soft to modern and creative. Whether you’re baking for holidays, gifting homemade treats, or just craving warm spices, gingerbread cookies never disappoint.
