Gingerbread shortbread cookies are a little magical. Its subtle, refined aroma reminds of a holiday, a nice evening tea party, and home comfort. It goes perfectly with almost any drink. Combines with coffee, cocoa, milk, fruit juice, wine. And most importantly, it is easy and interesting to prepare. Let's try!

Gingerbread cinnamon cookies came about by chance. According to legend, a young novice of the monastery was preparing food for the Christmas meal and accidentally spilled spices into the dough. The case was terrible for that time, because spices were worth their weight in gold. But the cookies turned out unexpectedly delicious, and everyone liked them. This is how the tradition arose.

In Europe, shortbread cookies with ginger are a mandatory attribute of the New Year holidays. There are many options: with honey, chocolate, zest, pepper.

In Germany, France, England, and the USA, gingerbread cookies with icing are a must for Christmas. Once upon a time it was not distinguished by a variety of shapes - it was round or oval. Now there are blanks of all possible sizes and configurations: little men, stars, houses. The decor is also pleasing - fragrant marzipan, edible beads and rhinestones, “inlaid” with plates of edible gold makes ordinary cookies a real work of art.

Classic recipe from Europe

Let's try to bake gingerbread shortbread cookies in the same way as confectioners, and simply residents of European cities and villages, have been preparing them for a long time.

We will need:

• 200 g natural butter;
• 1 medium sized egg;
• 200 g granulated sugar;
• 2 cups of flour;
• ½ teaspoon of soda;
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger and cinnamon;
• a little cardamom, allspice, cloves to taste.

• The finished “semi-finished product” is wrapped in film and put in the refrigerator for 15-30 minutes. The dough becomes more plastic and holds its shape better.
• After this, it is divided into two equal parts. One of them is rolled out into a layer of medium thickness and figures are cut out with a special mold or cup/glass. They can be sprinkled with powdered sugar, nuts, and decorated with icing.
• Place baking paper on a baking sheet and the finished cookies on it. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees, approximate baking time is 8-10 minutes.
• Then do the same with the second part of the dough. It turns out two batches of “shortbreads”. They can be covered with glaze.

Honey ginger cookies

Ginger cookies can be prepared with honey, which not only gives the dough a wonderful taste and aroma, but also makes it more pliable.

You will need:

• 200 g (one and a half cups) flour;
• 0.5 teaspoon of soda;
• 100 g each of granulated sugar and butter;
• egg;
• spices according to personal preference (ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, pepper, cloves) - a pinch;
• 3 teaspoons of any liquid honey.

Preparation:

1. By analogy with the classic recipe, dry (flour, spices, soda) and liquid (sugar, egg, butter, honey) bases are collected, which are then combined.
2. The finished dough rests in the refrigerator for about 2 hours.
3. Then it is rolled out and “shortcakes” are cut out, which are baked in an oven preheated to 180 degrees for 10 minutes.

Ginger and Lemon Cookies

The exquisite citrus taste gives the cookies a special charm, and the recipe is not difficult to prepare.

• 350 g (3.7 cups) wheat flour sifted through a sieve;
• 2 cups of powdered sugar (you can crush ordinary granulated sugar in a mortar);
• 300 g butter or margarine;
• 50 g ginger;
• 2-3 tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2-3 teaspoons of zest.

Preparation:

• Flour, zest, ginger and powdered sugar are combined in a suitable container.
• Softened butter is added there, the dough is kneaded until the consistency of coarse crumbs.
• Lemon juice is added.
• The dough should be homogeneous. Roll it into a ball. Separate half and roll out into a layer.
• Cut into squares or diamonds.
• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Bake a little longer than usual - about 20 minutes.

Glaze recipes

Traditional glaze is prepared from the following components:

• 1 teaspoon lemon juice;
• 1 tbsp. l. boiled cold water;
• 150 g sugar.

Preparation:

1. The components are mixed until the mass hardens without spreading over the saucer.
2. Cookies are decorated using a special pastry syringe or a regular plastic bag with a corner cut off.
3. You can draw patterns, ornaments, funny scenes.

Chicken protein, cocoa, and food coloring are added to the glaze.

• The finished cookies with ginger and cinnamon are fragrant, crispy and theoretically “long-lasting” - they can be stored for several weeks. In practice, it is so tasty that it is “swept away” from the table in the blink of an eye.
• Gingerbread cookies are good to make with children - they are simple, fun and interesting. A common cause helps a lot in education and promotes mutual understanding in the family. And it’s just nice to tinker with the dough, chat about trifles and laugh. This activity lifts your spirits and creates a cozy atmosphere.

Gingerbread cookies or gingerbread are an indispensable attribute of cozy New Year's gatherings with friends. These delicious cookies migrated to us from Anglo-Saxon culture and have successfully taken root in the arsenal of our housewives. After all, it is easy to prepare, and the taste is amazing. We will now tell you how to make gingerbread at home.

Classic recipe from the Queen of England

Her Majesty's confectioners shared the recipe for this
dessert traditional for the Christmas holidays, and now we are translating
this recipe is for you. These gingerbread cookies are prepared without honey and without eggs, but they have
its own nuances in preparation. The cooks of the royal court are one of the main
Secrets are considered to be the opportunity to give the dough a rest. It's better to leave the dough on
night. Another secret is to preserve the contours. To keep the cookies while baking
does not spread, try rolling out the dough, cutting into shapes, and then sending
put them in the freezer for an hour. Frozen dough does not melt in the oven and has
sharper edges.

To prepare for us
need to:

• Wheat flour – 1.5 cups;
• Butter – 100 g;
• Ground ginger – 1 teaspoon;
• Baking spices (ground in equal parts)
  spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom) – 1 teaspoon;
• Soda - on the tip of the knife;
• Salt – 1/3 teaspoon;
• Brown sugar – 5 tbsp. spoon;
• Milk – 3 tbsp. spoons
• White sugar and icing for decoration.

How to cook:

Mix all bulk ingredients with flour and add to them
softened butter, cut into cubes. Grind everything and then add
milk. Mix everything well again and form a ball. Pack it in
cling film and place to “rest” in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or better yet
for the night. Cold dough rolls out better, so don't let it sit
room temperature.

Once the dough has risen, roll it out into a thick layer.
3-5 mm and cut out the figures. If you want to use cookies for decoration
Christmas tree, then immediately make holes for the ribbon. Can be used
ready-made stencils for gingerbread or your own from paper. Easy to make holes
drinking straw. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees, arrange the figures
onto a baking tray on baking paper and bake. Usually for this
10 minutes is enough, but look at the condition of the gingerbread cookies themselves. Once they are dry
- you can get it. It is better to cool the gingerbread cookies before decorating.

Spicy ginger cookies with honey and cocoa

These gingerbread cookies turn out darker and more flavorful, but...
The glaze looks more contrasting on them.

For the test we need:

• Wheat flour – 1.5 cups;
• Butter – 100 g;
• Egg yolk – 1 pc.;
• Honey – 2 tbsp. spoons;
• Ground ginger – 2 tbsp. spoons;
• Cocoa – 2 teaspoons;
• Cinnamon – 1 teaspoon;
• Nutmeg – 0.5 teaspoon;
• Cardamom – 0.5 teaspoon;
• Soda - on the tip of the knife;
• Salt – 1/3 teaspoon;
• Brown sugar (or regular) – 3 tbsp. spoons.

We'll tell you how to make glaze for gingerbread.
a little lower.

For the dough, mix all the dry ingredients and then add
add yolk, honey and melted butter. You should have a dough consistency
resembling plasticine. If the dough turns out to be dry and crumbly, then
add a little vegetable oil. Roll into a ball, wrap it in food
film and place in the refrigerator for 2 hours. After this, the dough can
Roll out, cut out shapes and bake. No flour needed for rolling - dough
It sticks well from your hands and from the table due to the oil. Bake in the oven at 180
degrees for about 12 minutes.

Popular questions about gingerbread cookies

— Is it possible to add grated fresh root rather than ground ginger?

- No, since the dough will lose its elasticity, it will
burst and crumble more strongly.

— Is it possible to cook gingerbread cookies in a frying pan?

- Can. To do this, they are fried on each side until light.
crusts. But this way they will be more oily and firm.

—Can I cook without oil?

— The principle of making crispy cookies is based on oil,
you can't do without it. If for some reason you do not eat butter, then
it can be replaced with vegetable one.

— How to prepare dietary gingerbread?

— If you stick to PP or just want Christmas
gingerbread cookies were more dietary, then replace sugar and honey with a sweetener,
for example, stevia drops. For our recipes you will need 1 teaspoon,
not filled to the brim.

— How to make Lenten ginger cookies?

— Since the New Year for Orthodox Christians falls on
Nativity fast, some people deny themselves the pleasure of cooking
gingerbread It’s completely in vain, because butter and eggs can be replaced with
vegetable oil, and the cookies will still remain just as fragrant. Lenten glaze
You can buy it in the store for decoration.

— How to make New Year's gingerbread cookies for children?

— Our recipes are suitable for small children. But if yours
If your little ones are allergic to any foods, exclude them from the list. If needed
To make gluten-free gingerbread, replace the wheat flour with
almond, buckwheat or rice, or even a mixture of them. But in this case the torment
you will need a little more - 2 cups. The egg can be replaced with milk or vegetable
oil in the same volume. Eggless frosting can be made from a store-bought mixture.

— How long can gingerbread be stored?

— Since such gingerbread cookies turn out crispy and contain little
moisture, they remain edible for a month. Ingredients in honey
and ginger only enhance the antiseptic properties of the dessert. B good
In a ventilated and dry place, gingerbread cookies can remain edible for up to 6
months.

How to make glaze for decoration

If you have already baked gingerbread, then you probably
We found them to be very easy to prepare. But the same cannot be said about the glaze.
You need to take its preparation very seriously, otherwise it will turn out
liquid and will spread. You can’t make beautiful patterns with such glaze.
it will work out.

• Chicken egg white – 1 pc.
• Powdered sugar – 200 gr;
• Lemon juice – half a teaspoon;
• Dyes.

If you've ever made frosting before, you've probably...
We noted that in this recipe we put 2 times more sugar and lemon juice.
This will help make the consistency smoother and more even. Sometimes this glaze
called "icing". The amount of sugar is adjusted according to the size of the protein. If he
small, then 150 grams will be enough, and if large, then 250 grams will be needed.
Sugar will not spoil the glaze.

Beat the whites and gradually add sugar to it. How
The fewer crystals in your powdered sugar, the faster your icing will turn out.
You need to beat until the mass becomes very thick. Try it
dip a spoon into the frosting, then remove it and watch it drip
weight. If it moves slowly, in a thin stream, then everything is ready, which means
You can add lemon juice and coloring. You can decorate gingerbread cookies with
using special pastry envelopes, or you can prepare them yourself,
folding regular printer paper. She slowly gets wet and with her
convenient to work.

When you get ready to make gingerbread cookies, be sure to involve the whole family in the work, and also invite your friends. Such activities will greatly brighten up your evening with loved ones, and our recipes will help you get delicious baked goods.

Gingerbread cookies are a homemade recipe that is often remembered on the eve of the New Year and Christmas holidays. The products are baked in large quantities, decorated with sugar icing, and then presented as souvenirs or added to the dessert menu with a delicious delicacy.

How to make gingerbread cookies?

Cookies with ginger can be prepared using classic technology or with deviations from the traditional recipe, but in any case they will turn out tasty and aromatic.

1. The basic technology is based on the addition of ground ginger or fresh grated ginger root, which gives the dessert a characteristic aroma and taste.
2. In addition to ginger, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, cloves, and other spices are added to the dough to enrich the properties of the delicacy.
3. The dough is kneaded exclusively with butter, often with the addition of honey and eggs, and has a plastic texture.

Gingerbread cookies - a simple and delicious recipe

An easy-to-follow recipe for ginger cookies at home will be the basis for obtaining an excellent final result. The dough, kneaded in butter and kept for a very short time in the refrigerator, rolls out perfectly, is soft and pliable, and the finished products hold their shape well and do not crack.

Ingredients:

• butter – 100 g;
• egg – 1 pc.;
• flour – 300 g;
• honey - 2 tbsp. spoons;
• sugar – 100 g;
• ginger – 2 teaspoons;
• soda – 0.5 teaspoon;
• cinnamon, cardamom, cloves - ¼ teaspoon each.

Preparation

1. Sift the flour.
2. Add soda and all the spices.
3. Beat soft butter with sugar, adding egg.
4. Combine the oil base with dry flour, knead the dough and place it in the cold for 2 hours or overnight.
5. Roll out the base to a thickness of 3-4 mm, cut out the products.
6. Bake classic ginger cookies at 180 degrees for 5-7 minutes.

Ginger Cinnamon Cookies

In this case, the dough for gingerbread cookies is mixed with the addition of ginger and cinnamon, taken in equal proportions, and does not require prolonged beating of the base. The final taste of the delicacy will be very harmonious, and the aroma will be rich and spicy. If desired, ground ginger can be replaced with grated root.

Ingredients:

• butter – 100 g;
• egg – 1 pc.;
• flour – 300 g;
• sugar – 100 g;
• ginger and cinnamon - 1 teaspoon each;
• baking powder – 1 teaspoon.

Preparation

1. Melt the butter.
2. Add cinnamon, ginger, egg and sugar, stir with a whisk.
3. Add flour, knead the dough, put it in the refrigerator for an hour.
4. Roll out the ball to a thickness of 4 mm, cut out the blanks.
5. Bake cookies with cinnamon and ginger on parchment for 10 minutes at 180 degrees.

Ginger pumpkin cookies

Gingerbread cookies, the recipe for which will be presented next, are prepared from batter, which is squeezed onto parchment using a pastry bag or spread with a spoon. obtained by grinding pumpkin pulp baked in the oven, microwave or poached on the stove in a blender.

Ingredients:

• butter – 140 g;
• pumpkin puree – 120 g;
• flour – 300 g;
• sugar – 150 g;
• ground ginger – 1 teaspoon;
• baking powder - 2 teaspoons;
• vanilla.

Preparation

1. Beat soft butter with sugar and pumpkin puree.
2. Combine flour, baking powder, vanilla, ginger and salt and stir into pumpkin-butter mixture.
3. Place gingerbread cookies on parchment and bake at 170 degrees for 15 minutes.

Gingerbread cookies without eggs

A simple ginger recipe will allow you to get the most crumbly and delicate structure of your products. The assortment of spices can be adjusted at your discretion, leaving only ginger unchanged. The kneaded dough can be stored in film in the refrigerator for up to seven days, which will only make it more pliable.

Ingredients:

• butter – 200 g;
• honey – 70 g;
• flour – 2.5 cups;
• sugar – 100 g;
• ground ginger, cinnamon and cloves - 0.5 teaspoon each;
• soda – 1 pinch.

Preparation

1. Beat butter and sugar until white.
2. Add honey with soda and spices.
3. Stir in the flour and place the base in film in the cold for at least 2 hours.
4. Roll out a ball, cut out the blanks, and place them on a sheet of parchment.
5. Gingerbread cookies are a recipe that is completed in an oven preheated to 180 degrees in 10-15 minutes.

Gingerbread cookies with honey - recipe

Buckwheat honey added to the composition will give additional color, rich aroma and the desired sweetness to baked goods. Ginger is used here fresh, for which the root is first peeled and ground on a fine grater. Cinnamon and ground nutmeg are optional spicy ingredients and can be added as desired.

Ingredients:

• butter – 250 g;
• honey – 100 g;
• flour – 500 g;
• fresh ginger – 100 g;
• cinnamon – 1 teaspoon;
• nutmeg – 0.5 teaspoon;
• vanilla and powdered sugar.

Preparation

1. Mix honey with soft butter.
2. Add grated ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg.
3. Stir in the flour and place the dough in the cold for 2-3 hours.
4. Roll out the base, cut out the blanks, and place them on parchment.
5. Bake honey-ginger cookies for 10 minutes at 180 degrees, sprinkle with vanilla powder.

Swedish ginger cookies

Simple gingerbread cookies get extra flavor by adding maple syrup to the dough and replacing white sugar with brown sugar. Heating the liquid base with spices will ensure maximum flavor in baked goods and will make it easier for the sugar crystals to dissolve and the butter to bloom.

Ingredients:

• butter – 150 g;
• maple syrup and water - 5 tbsp each. spoon;
• brown sugar – ¾ cup;
• flour – 500 g;
• ground ginger – 1 tbsp. spoon;
• cinnamon – 1 tbsp. spoon;
• nutmeg – ¼ teaspoon;
• baking powder - 2 teaspoons.

Preparation

1. Bring water with sugar and syrup to a boil.
2. Add oil and all the spices and let the mixture cool.
3. Mix the flour with baking powder and place the lump in the refrigerator overnight.
4. Roll out the base, cut out the pieces, place them on parchment and bake for 10 minutes at 175 degrees.

Shortbread cookies with ginger

Ginger, which allows you to appreciate the melt-in-your-mouth taste of the finished products. The amazing aroma here will be achieved through the use of orange zest and oven-dried fresh ginger root. If necessary, you can not add eggs at all or reduce their quantity by half.

Ingredients:

• butter – 200 g;
• eggs – 2 pcs.;
• sugar – 140 g and 2 tbsp. spoons;
• flour – 400 g;
• grated ginger – 2 tbsp. spoons;
• cinnamon – 2 teaspoons;
• honey – 4 teaspoons;
• nutmeg – 1 teaspoon;
• baking powder - 3 teaspoons;
• zest from half an orange.

Preparation

1. The ground ginger root is dried in the oven on foil for 10 minutes.
2. The resulting ginger is mixed with cinnamon, nutmeg, orange zest and two tablespoons of sugar, and ground in a coffee grinder.
3. Add honey, sugar, butter, eggs, baking powder, and then flour.
4. Knead the dough and put it in the freezer for 20 minutes.
5. Roll out a ball, cut out shortbread ginger cookies, bake at 200 degrees until golden brown for 10-15 minutes.

Ginger oatmeal cookies

Homemade gingerbread cookies can be reduced in calories by baking them with oatmeal and whole wheat flour according to the following recipe. The result will pleasantly surprise you with the excellent taste of the delicacy. It will be a pleasure to treat yourself to such a healthy dessert with a cup of hot tea, warm milk, or cocoa.

Ingredients:

• butter – 80 g;
• brown sugar – 40 g;
• oatmeal – 100 g;
• whole grain flour – 120 g;
• grated ginger – 2 teaspoons;
• cinnamon – 1 teaspoon;
• honey – 60 g;
• water – 50 ml;
• baking powder - 2 teaspoons.

Preparation

1. Soft butter is ground with honey, sugar, cinnamon and ginger.
2. Sift two types of flour and baking powder into the base, add water and mix.
3. Take a teaspoon of dough, roll into balls, and place them on parchment.
4. Ginger, which is completed by baking the products in the oven at 200 degrees for 15 minutes.

Chocolate gingerbread cookies

Cooking ginger cookies with the addition of cocoa will interest fans of chocolate and desserts with its participation. For a richer taste, the portion of the additive can be increased by simultaneously adjusting the amount of flour. When ready, such products can be decorated not only with melted chocolate.

Ingredients:

• butter – 100 g;
• sugar – 100 g;
• flour – 300 g;
• ground ginger – 1 tbsp. spoon;
• cinnamon – 1 teaspoon;
• honey - 3 tbsp. spoons;
• cocoa – 2 tbsp. spoons;
• egg – 1 pc.;
• baking powder - 1.5 teaspoons.

Preparation

1. Beat butter and sugar, adding honey and then egg.
2. Stir in cocoa and spices, flour and baking powder, until the dough is homogeneous.
3. Place the lump in the film in the cold for 2 hours.
4. Roll out a ball, cut out cookies, bake for 12 minutes at 180 degrees.

Orange-ginger cookies

The following recipe for cookies with ginger involves adding orange juice and zest to the dough, which transforms and enriches the final taste of the baked goods. Cloves harmonize perfectly with notes of citrus, while in this case it is better to refrain from adding nutmeg or replace it with cardamom.

Ingredients:

• butter – 140 g;
• sugar – 150 g;
• eggs – 2 pcs.;
• flour – 400 g;
• ground ginger – 2 teaspoons;
• cloves – 0.5 teaspoon;
• honey - 2 tbsp. spoons;
• orange – 1 pc.;
• baking powder - 3 teaspoons.

Preparation

1. Grind the butter with sugar, adding honey, egg, ginger, orange juice and zest, and cloves in the process.
2. Knead a viscous and sticky dough.
3. Form it into balls the size of a walnut, place it on parchment, and press it.
4. Bake cookies for 10 minutes at 200 degrees.

Gingerbread cookies with glaze - recipe

Gingerbread cookies with icing, which can be made based on the instructions given in this recipe, will complement the dessert menu, become a decoration for the New Year tree or a souvenir for friends. If desired, the white sugar icing can be divided into portions and tinted with food coloring, which will make the decor more vibrant.

Truffles or aromatic oil that you made yourself. They contain your attention and care. Bake some gingerbread cookies for your friends this year! I have a simple and reliable recipe.

Baking cookies on Christmas Eve is an old European tradition. The first to appear were the German lebkuchen gingerbreads; they are distant relatives of our mint and berry gingerbreads. By the 16th century, a variety of cookies were baked throughout Europe. In Germany, in addition to gingerbread, spritz cookies were made with butter, in Sweden they made sweets with black pepper and ginger, and in Norway they made lacy waffles with the aroma of citrus and cardamom.

In England, so-called “sugar” cookies, sugar cookies, have become fashionable; they contain a lot of sugar. Even the small animal-shaped cookies (edible zoo), which we all adored as children, also go back to the tradition of celebrating European Christmas. Bake as many as possible so that your tree gets a few. Cookies do a great job as toys!

In December in Europe and America, cookies are everywhere. It is sold in confectionery shops and bakeries, and prepared in home kitchens. Since the 1960s, there has been a tradition of cookie swaps in the United States: girls get together, have fun and share baked goods with each other. Each one goes home with a whole box of assorted cookies, as if she had stopped by a candy store or hasn’t left the kitchen for a week. One day I was invited to such a party. It was sweet, noisy, and smelled of warm spices and champagne. True, then I couldn’t look at cookies for 11 months.

The most interesting thing is that there are not so many basic dough recipes. The differences are rather in the shape of the cookies, decoration and size of the edible beads. I make regular dough, not too sweet, with a minimum amount of butter, because the icing will add sweetness. I add more, especially ginger, because Christmas cookies should sting your nose a little. Believe me, ginger can do this!

The dough is prepared in literally ten minutes. You need to combine all the ingredients and wrap in cling film. I recommend putting the dough in the refrigerator for half an hour to harden slightly - this will make it easier to roll out and cut out the shapes.

Another trick in the dough rolling technique. You'll probably want to dust your work surface with flour, but it's better to do it differently: cut two sheets of baking paper, place a ball of dough between them and roll out with a rolling pin. Firstly, it is very convenient - it is easy to handle the layer, twist it to roll it out evenly. Secondly, this way the dough will not absorb excess flour. Plus, you won’t have to wash the countertop later.

I learned to bake from Western magazines. Beautiful photos with snowmen and Christmas trees inspire you to wear an apron! In all foreign photographs, the cookies are a delicate coffee color, but with the basic recipe this color will not work. It will be as light as a loaf of gray bread. How many gingerbread men I baked before I figured out that the British add a little dark syrup, and the Americans add thick, blue-black molasses! Our grandmothers tinted the dough with a burner, burning sugar in a frying pan, and our mothers used cocoa powder.

The simplest thing is to add a little cocoa to the dough, it will give it a shade like the cookies in the magazine picture. Make a gingerbread if you like, but I suggest saving your energy for decorating the gingerbread cookies. Make some frosting, color it with a variety of food colorings, fill piping bags, and remember what you learned in art class. Create! There are no rules when it comes to decorating cookies!

My advice to you: bake with your children. They will be happy if you trust them to cut out and decorate the cookies. Your kitchen will love it too - it will be filled with the aromas of the holiday. Don't delay, New Year is very close!

Ginger cookie

Ingredients(about 18 cookies)

flour - 250 g

butter at room temperature - 70 g

brown sugar - 80 g

egg - 1 pc.

cocoa - 1 tbsp. spoon

ground ginger - 1 teaspoon

fresh grated ginger - 1 teaspoon

ground cinnamon - 1 teaspoon

ground cloves - 0.5 teaspoon

soda - 0.5 teaspoon

For decoration

powdered sugar - 250 g

large egg white (about 40 g) - 1 pc.

lemon juice - 1 tbsp. spoon

warm water - 2-3 tbsp. spoons

food colorings

beads and snowflakes

Preparation

1. Cut the butter into cubes, combine with sugar, egg and beat with a mixer for 2-3 minutes - you should get a homogeneous mass.

2. Add flour, soda, spices, ginger and cocoa. Mix (I use a stand mixer). Wrap the dough in cling film and put it in the refrigerator for half an hour.

3. Divide the dough into two parts. Place the first piece on a large sheet of baking paper, flatten it with your hand, cover with another sheet and roll out with a rolling pin. You should get an even layer 5-7 mm thick.

4. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Make figures from the dough (if desired, poke holes for the ribbon with a straw), place them on a baking sheet and place in the oven for 10 minutes. If the cookies are thicker than 7mm, they will need an extra 3-4 minutes.

5. While the first batch is baking, do the same with the second batch of dough. If the dough is a little soft, put it back in the refrigerator. Let the finished cookies cool and start decorating.

6. Combine all glaze ingredients and beat with a mixer for 8-10 minutes. You should get a dense glossy mass. Run a knife over the glaze; it should hold a mark for about 10 seconds—it’s convenient to paint with this glaze. If the glaze is runny, add more powdered sugar and beat with a mixer. If, on the contrary, it is too dense, pour in a tablespoon of warm water.

7. Place the glaze into bowls and color with food coloring. Then transfer to pastry bags and start decorating. If you want to cover the gingerbread with an even layer of icing, paint the edges first and then fill in the middle. You can level the surface with a toothpick or brush. Decorate the cookies with edible beads and snowflakes and leave for 3-4 hours for the icing to harden. Store cookies in a container with a tight lid.

The recipe for the delicacy has been known for several centuries. English monks were the first to prepare ginger cookies to decorate the Christmas tree. The tradition quickly took root and since then the aromatic delicacy has been considered a mandatory attribute of the Christmas holiday.

Nowadays, we have learned to turn cookies into a work of art. Thanks to the large number of cooking variations, everyone will find a recipe suitable for themselves.

Ginger delicacy is a symbol of Christmas in many countries. The cookies are shaped into various figures and hung on the Christmas tree. It is customary to decorate with multi-colored icing and confectionery sprinkles.

Crispy cookies have a pronounced ginger flavor and a pleasant aroma of spices. Most recipes recommend adding honey to the composition. It makes the texture of the treat more delicate and allows the product to be stored for a long time. Even after 3 months the cookies will not become stale.

A large amount of spices turns baked goods into an amazing, unique delicacy with a pleasant spicy aftertaste.

Secrets and rules for successful baking with ginger

In order for the delicacy to please you with its appearance and taste, you need to follow simple recommendations:

• It is ginger that makes cookies unusual, so its quality determines how bright and pleasant the taste will be.
• For preparation, it is allowed to use dried, ground root, which is sold in bags. But the aroma and brightness of taste with such a spice will be noticeably reduced than when adding fresh root.
• Ginger dough is finicky and difficult to roll out. It constantly sticks to the surface and requires adding flour, which deteriorates its structure and quality. In order not to spoil the cookies, the dough is rolled out between two bags. Before rolling, the mass is placed in the freezer for a quarter of an hour. Then spread between bags and roll out to the required thickness. This way it won't stick or tear. Then carefully remove the bags and begin to form the cookies.

• Adding molasses to the composition helps the delicacy acquire a beautiful dark color. In addition, the cookies will retain their taste longer, become soft, airy and will not crumble.
• Often the cookies lose their shape. This can be easily corrected by trimming hot baked goods.
• The readiness of the cookies is easy to determine. If it has risen slightly and browned, it is ready.
• Most often, ginger delicacy is prepared to decorate a Christmas tree. You can easily make a neat hole for the rope using a cocktail straw.
• Low grade flour produces better results in cookies.
• If there are no special forms, you can cut out stencils on paper.

The benefits and harms of ginger cookies

Thanks to ginger root, cookies have a beneficial effect on the body:

• increases body tone;
• has a bactericidal effect;
• stimulates brain activity;
• enhances metabolism;
• helps resist diseases;
• increases glucose levels;
• stimulates the functioning of the cardiac system;
• strengthens the immune system;
• reduces the risk of blood clots;
• when consumed in small doses, it alleviates the symptoms of toxicosis.

Excessive consumption can negatively affect your figure and cause obesity.

Requirements for choosing the main ingredient

To increase the beneficial properties, aroma and taste of cookies, it is recommended to use fresh ginger root. When purchasing, preference is given to firm, light and juicy specimens. There should be no visible fibers or wrinkles on the surface. The fresh root has a thin skin and a fragrant aroma. Before adding to the dough, the root is finely ground.

When using ginger powder, pay attention to the packaging. It should be without damage, and the shelf life should be as long as possible.

Recipes for making ginger cookies at home

Classic gingerbread cookies with icing

Cookies will help decorate the Christmas holiday and fill the room with a pleasant, spicy aroma.

Will need

• sugar syrup – 85 ml;
• protein – 1 pc.;
• flour – 1500 g;
• cinnamon – 12 g;
• powdered sugar – 250 g;
• margarine – 340 g;
• baking powder – 20 g;
• cardamom – 12 g;
• sugar – 450 g;
• cloves – 15 g;
• water – 240 ml;
• ginger – 20 g.

Preparation

• Two hours before cooking, remove the margarine from the refrigerator.
• Pour syrup over margarine. Add sugar. Beat.
• Add spices and combine with baking powder. Pour in water (200 ml) and mix with flour. Knead the dough.
• Leave in the cold for a day. Roll. Cut out cookies. The best option is to use special molds. If they are not available, use paper stencils, glasses, and glasses for cutting.

• Place on a baking sheet and bake in a hot oven at 180°. Bake for 7 minutes. Cool. If you plan to use cookies as a Christmas tree decoration, you must first make a hole for the thread using a cocktail tube.
• Pour the protein into the remaining water and add powder. Beat. The glaze should be a rich white color.
• Decorate the liver with the prepared sugar glaze. Leave for a day to dry.

Cinnamon

The delicacy is moderately spicy and very healthy. For a more delicate taste, the amount of root can be reduced.

Ingredients

• spread – 110 g softened;
• sugar – 190 g;
• baking powder - 1 teaspoon;
• flour – 310 g;
• cinnamon – 8 g;
• egg – 1 pc.;
• ginger – 2 roots;
• cloves – 5 pcs.

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven. It will take 180°.
2. Combine baking powder with flour. Place the cloves in a mortar and add cinnamon. Grind. Chop the peeled roots and grind in a blender. Mix all prepared products.
3. Place the spread in the sugar. Beat with a mixer. Pour in the egg and add the spicy mixture. Knead. Roll.
4. Cut out cookies. Place on a baking sheet.
5. Place in the oven. Bake for 25 minutes.

Dietary with cottage cheese

Even during a diet, you can treat yourself to homemade cakes. You can make these cookies every day without harming your figure.

Will need

• low-fat cottage cheese – 2 tbsp. spoons;
• squirrels – 4 pcs.;
• vanilla sugar – 0.5 sachet;
• honey – 15 ml;
• fresh grated ginger – 30 g;
• oat flakes – 80 g.

Preparation

1. Cool the whites. Beat for 5 minutes. You will need dense foam.
2. Add honey with cottage cheese. Mix. Pour in oatmeal and sprinkle with vanilla sugar. Knead. Set aside for 15 minutes.
3. Preheat the oven to 180°.
4. Use your hands to form cookies into the desired size. Place on a baking sheet.
5. Bake for 17 minutes.

With chocolate

You can make chocolate treats together with your children. This exciting pastime will help develop hand motor skills and the child’s imagination.

Ingredients

• granulated sugar – 90 g;
• ginger – 10 g;
• egg – 1 pc.;
• spread – 100 g;
• honey – 35 ml;
• baking powder – 10 g;
• cinnamon – 10 g;
• flour – 300 g;
• chocolate – 40 g;
• nutmeg – 3 g.

How to do

1. Melt the spread in the microwave oven. Sweeten.
2. Pour in honey and egg. Beat for 3 minutes.
3. Add baking powder and spices. Mix. Melt the chocolate. Pour into the mass. Combine with flour. Knead. Cool.
4. Roll. Cut out cookies. Transfer to a baking sheet and bake for 17 minutes (180°).

With honey

Honey is much healthier than sugar; in addition, baked goods with it are saturated with a pleasant aroma. You can bake a treat for any occasion, not just for the Christmas holiday.

Will need

• flour – 210 g;
• cinnamon – 8 g;
• soda – 2 g;
• dry ground ginger – 10 g;
• powdered sugar – 80 g;
• honey – 25 ml;
• salt – 2 g;
• butter – 40 g cold;
• yolk – 1 pc.

How to cook

1. Add spices to flour. Add salt. Add soda. Mix and sift through a sieve.
2. Chop the butter piece. Add to flour mixture. Grind. It should be crumbly.
3. Pour in honey, yolk and sprinkle with powder. Knead. If the mixture crumbles, add a little more honey.
4. Wrap in a bag and place in the refrigerator to cool for an hour. Then roll out and cut out the blanks.
5. Place on a baking sheet and bake in an oven at 180°. It will take 20 minutes.

Lenten ginger cookies

The baked goods are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

Ingredients

• water – 150 ml;
• honey – 60 ml;
• salt – 2 g;
• olive oil – 7 tbsp. spoon;
• cinnamon – 12 g;
• vanilla sugar - a bag;
• allspice – 5 g;
• flour – 425 g;
• fresh ginger – 2x2 cm piece;
• cloves – 1 teaspoon;
• wheat bran – 5 tbsp. spoon;
• soda – 4 g.

How to cook

1. Chop a piece of ginger.
2. Pour water, oil, honey and ginger cubes into a blender bowl. Add vanillin, baking soda and spices. Add salt and beat.
3. Pour the resulting mixture over the bran. Stir. Mix with flour. Knead. The mass should not stick to your hands.
4. Set the oven to heat up. You will need 180°.
5. Roll out the dough. Sufficient thickness is half a centimeter. Cut out the figures.
6. Place cookies on a greased baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes on medium level.