Name: Gingerbread Star Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Yield: 24
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 ¼ cups (410g) all-purpose flour; 1 tablespoon ground ginger; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg; ¼ teaspoon ground cloves; 1 teaspoon baking soda; ½ teaspoon salt; ¾ cup (170g) unsalted butter, softened; ¾ cup (150g) brown sugar, packed; 1 large egg; ½ cup (120ml) molasses; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; Royal icing or powdered sugar; Sprinkles or edible glitter (optional)

Crafting gingerbread star cookies brings pure winter magic into your kitchen.

Warm spices dance through the air, promising delightful memories.

Crisp edges and soft centers create the perfect cookie texture.

Fragrant cinnamon and molasses weave nostalgic stories with each bite.

Little hands love cutting festive star shapes, making baking a playful experience.

Decorating becomes an artistic adventure with royal icing and colorful sprinkles.

You can transform simple ingredients into edible masterpieces that spark joy and holiday cheer.

Let these charming treats become your new seasonal tradition.

Roll, Cut, and Bake Gingerbread Cookies Like a Pro

Step 1: Craft the Cookie Base

Mix soft butter and rich brown sugar until they become creamy and light. Add a cracked egg, silky molasses, and aromatic vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, blend these dry ingredients:

All-purpose flour
Baking soda
Salt
Ground ginger
Ground cinnamon
Nutmeg
Cloves

Slowly fold dry ingredients into wet mixture until a smooth dough emerges.

Step 2: Chill the Dough

Separate dough into two circular discs. Wrap each tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for minimum one hour or up to full day.

Step 3: Prepare Baking Station

Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.

Step 4: Shape Stellar Cookies

Dust work surface with flour. Roll dough until paper-thin. Use star-shaped cookie cutters to create magical shapes. Arrange cookies on prepared baking sheets with slight separation.

Step 5: Bake to Perfection

Slide cookies into oven. Bake 8-10 minutes until edges look set but centers remain soft. Allow cookies to rest on baking sheet for brief moments before transferring to cooling rack.

Step 6: Add Sparkling Finishing Touches

Once completely cooled, embellish cookies with royal icing, sprinkle powdered sugar, or decorate with festive sprinkles.

Tips for Spiced Flavor and Even Baking

Maximize Flavor: Add an extra pinch of ground ginger or a dash of orange zest to intensify the warm, spicy notes of the gingerbread cookies.
Prevent Spreading: Chill the cookie dough thoroughly before cutting and baking to ensure the stars maintain their crisp, defined shape and don't spread too much.
Create Variations: Swap out some of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour for a nuttier texture, or replace molasses with honey for a lighter sweetness.
Master Rolling Technique: Use powdered sugar instead of flour when rolling out the dough to prevent toughening and add a subtle extra sweetness to the cookies.
Store Like a Pro: Keep cookies in an airtight container with a slice of bread to maintain moisture and freshness for up to a week.

How to Keep Gingerbread Stars Crisp or Soft

Store cooled gingerbread star cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Layer cookies between sheets of parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Place cookies in a freezer-safe container, separating layers with parchment paper. Freeze for up to 3 months for maximum freshness and flavor preservation.
Remove frozen cookies from the freezer and let them sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving. Avoid microwaving to maintain their crisp texture.
Warm cookies briefly in a preheated oven at 300F for 2-3 minutes if you prefer a slightly crisp texture. Watch carefully to prevent burning.

Icing Ideas That Work with Gingerbread

Pair Festive Spiced Gingerbread with Complementary Beverages and Flavors
Enhance the gingerbread's warm spices with a creamy, aromatic chai that mirrors the cookie's cinnamon and ginger notes, creating a cozy winter flavor combination.
Indulge in a decadent chocolate drink that balances the cookie's spiciness with deep, smooth cocoa undertones, offering a luxurious dessert experience.
Complement the gingerbread's warmth with a sweet-tart apple cider infused with caramel, providing a refreshing contrast to the cookie's bold spice profile.
Match the cookie's holiday spirit with a creamy, classic eggnog that echoes the nutmeg and vanilla flavors, delivering a nostalgic seasonal pairing.

Try These Creative Gingerbread Shapes

Gluten-Free Gingerbread Stars: Replace wheat flour with a gluten-free blend, ensuring the same spicy warmth and festive shape for those with gluten sensitivities.

Vegan Spiced Cookies: Swap butter with coconut oil, use a flax egg instead of regular egg, and select plant-based molasses to create a compassionate version of the classic treat.

Low-Sugar Gingerbread Shapes: Substitute brown sugar with monk fruit sweetener or stevia, reducing overall sugar content while maintaining the rich, traditional gingerbread flavor profile.

Paleo-Friendly Holiday Cutouts: Use almond flour and coconut flour as base, eliminate refined sugars, and rely on natural sweeteners like honey to craft a nutrient-dense cookie that honors the original recipe’s spirit.

Why do I need to chill the gingerbread cookie dough?

Chilling helps prevent spreading during baking and makes the dough easier to handle. Cold dough holds its shape better and allows the spices to meld, creating a more flavorful cookie.

Can I substitute any spices in the recipe?

While you can adjust spices, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves are traditional gingerbread spices. Each adds a unique flavor, so removing one might change the classic gingerbread taste. If you’re missing a spice, try to keep the overall quantity the same.

How thick should I roll the dough?

Aim for about 1/4-inch thickness. This ensures cookies that are crisp on the edges but still soft and chewy in the center. Too thin, and they’ll be too crisp; too thick, and they won’t bake evenly.

What's the best way to prevent the cookies from sticking to the cutter?

Dip your cookie cutter in flour between each cut. This prevents the dough from sticking and helps you create clean, precise star shapes with minimal effort.

What Makes Gingerbread Star Cookies Shine Bright

Easily create festive gingerbread star cookies that bring seasonal cheer to your kitchen.
Whip up delightful treats in under an hour, perfect for involving kids in baking and creating memorable moments together.
Packed with warm spices like ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg, these cookies deliver classic holiday taste that everyone will love.
Prepare dough in advance and refrigerate up to 24 hours, making party prep and spontaneous baking super simple and stress-free.

What You’ll Need for Gingerbread Stars

Flour Base:

All-Purpose Flour: The essential foundation for the cookie's structure, providing texture and stability.
Baking Soda: A critical leavening agent that helps the cookies rise and spread evenly.

Spice Blend:

Ground Ginger, Ground Cinnamon, Ground Nutmeg, Ground Cloves: A warm and aromatic spice combination that gives the classic gingerbread flavor profile, with each spice adding depth and complexity.

Wet Ingredients:

Unsalted Butter, Brown Sugar: Creamy base that provides rich sweetness and tender texture, choose high-quality butter for best results.
Egg: Binds ingredients and adds moisture to the cookie dough.
Molasses: Gives deep, dark sweetness and signature gingerbread color, opt for robust or blackstrap variety for intense flavor.
Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor complexity, use pure vanilla for best taste.

Optional Decoration:

Royal Icing, Powdered Sugar, Sprinkles: Decorative elements to personalize the star-shaped cookies, choose based on preference and occasion.

Jamie Granger

Recipe Developer & Food Writer

Expertise

Fusion Cuisine Development
Recipe Development and Food Styling
Culinary Writing and Content Creation
Nutrition and Healthy Cooking

Education

Culinary Institute of America

Degree: Associate in Culinary Arts
Focus: Emphasis on flavor development, classic and contemporary culinary techniques, menu design, and global cuisine preparation; combined with food-service management, communication, and finance training; and immersive hands‑on restaurant operations through paid industry internships.

Jamie Granger turns ingredients into memories. With her recipes, she brings a fusion-forward flair to every creation.

Her dishes reflect the places she’s explored, the chefs she’s learned from, and the deep connection she has to food as a form of expression.

At Pass and Provision, Jamie develops recipes that balance flavor, health, and beauty, meals that don’t just satisfy your appetite but speak to your curiosity.

Magical Gingerbread Star Cookies Recipe for Holiday Joy