Hot Cocoa Gingerbread Cookies

Prep Time

1h 15m

Bake Time

11-13m

Yields

About 24, depending on size of cookie cutter

About this Recipe

What’s more fun than making gingerbread men during the holidays? Making gingerbread men with hot cocoa baked right into the cookie! Gather the family because everyone will enjoy baking and decorating these Hot Cocoa Gingerbread Cookies. They also make a great gift packaged with a hot cocoa mix.

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Hot Cocoa Gingerbread Cookies

Prep Time

1h 15m

Bake Time

11-13m

Yields

About 24, depending on size of cookie cutter

About this Recipe

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Ingredients

3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour*
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons cinnamon (Vietnamese preferred)
2 tablespoons dried ginger
1/8 teaspoon cloves
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, soft
3/4 cup Crystal Sugar Light Brown Sugar or Crystal Sugar Dark Brown Sugar
2/3 cup molasses
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Royal Icing

*Spoon & Sweep method: Use a spoon to fill measuring cup with flour until required amount is obtained. Scooping measuring cup directly into flour bag will firmly pack flour resulting in too much flour required for recipe.

Instructions

Thoroughly sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Set aside.
Mix butter until creamy. Add brown sugar followed by molasses. Beat in egg and vanilla extract and mix well.
Add dry ingredients and mix very briefly until just combined.
Press dough flat onto a plastic food film-lined cookie sheet and place in refrigerator, preferably overnight. If needing to use same day, place in freezer for about 1 hour and transfer to fridge.
If you plan to bake these cookies the same day, place dough in freezer for about 1 hour.
When ready to bake, line a few cookie sheets with parchment paper. Set aside. Preheat oven to 350°F.
Place parchment paper onto your work surface and lightly dust with flour to keep dough from sticking.
Roll half of chilled dough to 1/4-inch thick. If dough gets too soft, return partially rolled dough to freezer and continue rolling when firm.
Cut dough using preferred cutter. Cut as close as possible to obtain maximum amount of cut outs. Place on parchment-lined cookie sheets. If dough gets too soft to cut, return to freezer briefly.
Before placing in oven, brush off any flour residue on surface of cookies. Place in oven for about 11-13 minutes. Cookies will fall when finished baking and should bounce back when gently pressed in center when touched with a finger.
If under-baked, cookies will be soft and fluffy. If slightly overbaked, cookies will still soften during the day.
Once cookies have cooled, prepare Royal Icing. Decorate cookies as desired.