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Gingerbread cookies are a festive treat that evoke the warmth and spice of the holiday season. With their rich flavors and delightful crunch, these cookies are perfect for decorating and sharing with loved ones. They can be made in large batches, making them ideal for holiday festivities, gifting, or simply enjoying with a cup of tea.
Ingredients
- 200 g all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 100 g unsalted butter
- 100 g sugar (brown sugar is recommended)
- 3 teaspoons honey
Method
- Start by gathering your spices: ground cloves, ginger, cinnamon, and cardamom. If using whole spices for cardamom, crush them to obtain the seeds.
- In a bowl, mix the ground spices with the baking soda and then sift in the flour.
- In a separate bowl, beat the unsalted butter and sugar until creamy. If using brown sugar, it adds a lovely caramel flavor.
- Add the egg and honey to the butter mixture, mixing until well combined.
- Gradually add the flour and spice mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms. Don’t worry if the dough is sticky; wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 1.5 hours.
- Once chilled, divide the dough into four portions, keeping three in the refrigerator. Roll out the first portion on a floured surface or parchment paper until very thin.
- Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes, spacing them apart on the parchment paper. Transfer the paper to a baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for 5-7 minutes, watching closely to avoid burning.
- After baking, the cookies will be soft but will harden as they cool. You can create holes in the cookies with a straw before baking for decorative purposes.
- Enjoy your gingerbread cookies plain or decorated, and consider sharing them with friends and family for a delightful holiday gift!