Gingerbread Cookie Recipe Without Molasses

These gingerbread cookies without molasses are a delectable holiday treat that tastes just like a traditional gingerbread cookie. Your taste buds will be pleased with the warm spices and sweet honey flavors that are in the gingerbread men. And, even better yet, these delicious gingerbread cookies take well under 30 minutes from start to finish to bake.

The Best Gingerbread Cookies

There's nothing better than making - and eating - some gingerbread cookies around the holidays. The hard part though is finding an easy gingerbread recipe to make - atleast I think it is anyway. 

So, that's where this recipe comes in!

These gingerbread cookies have the perfect blend of caramelly brown sugar, sweet honey, and a warm balance of spices that instantly brings holiday cheer.

They're literally the perfect Christmas cookie recipe to make and then bring to wherever the party is! In my family, we always make this recipe and then have a gingerbread cookie decorating contest. It's one of my favorite traditions, and everyone loves how delicious the cookies taste.

By the way, my family also has a few more staple holiday dessert recipes we make every year. A few of my favorites are these chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, this 2 ingredient peanut butter fudge recipe, and this fudge pie. 

Everyone single one is sure to make your holiday that much better!

Anyway, now let's dive into the ingredients you'll need to make this no molasses gingerbread cookie recipe.

Ingredients

So, as I said, these gingerbread cookies use super simple ingredients. And if you're already doing some baking for the Holidays, I bet you already have most of them in your kitchen!

So, here's what you'll need to make these gingerbread cookies:

• ⅓ cup Brown Sugar
• 2 tbsp. Unsalted Butter
• 1 Egg
• ½ cup Honey
• 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
• ¼ cup Cocoa Powder
• 1 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
• 1 tsp. Ground Ginger
• ½ tsp. Ground All-Spice
• 2 tbsp. Baking Powder
• ½ tsp. Salt

And for the icing for decorating:

• ½ cup powdered sugar
• About 2 tsps. Milk (more as needed)
• ⅛ tsp. Vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp. food coloring (optional)

See? Way simpler than the majority of other recipes for ginger cookies.

Now, just so you know, this recipe will make about 16 regular-sized gingerbread cookies without molasses. But the number of cookies you get will depend on the gingerbread cookie cutter that you use.

Honestly, any cookie cutter will work. I actually like to use a few different ones to make the decorating process more exciting. You could even use reindeer, Christmas trees, Santa, or other holiday shapes with the gingerbread cookie dough and the cookies will turn out great too.

As for decorating, a piping bag will give the cleanest results. But you can also use a cookie brush, or my favorite, just a toothpick! Oh, and feel free to add any food coloring that you want to the icing to elevate the design of your ginger cookies.

Anyway, now that we have all of that settled, let's dive into how to make gingerbread cookies without molasses!

How to Make Gingerbread Cookies Without Molasses

So, this recipe will only take about 30 minutes to make and half of its baking time. So, you can easily make these gingerbread cookies along with any other cookie recipes for the holidays as well.

Anyway, let's not waste any more time and jump into the recipe!

Step 1: Mix the Wet ingredients

Before you get into the recipe, preheat the oven to 350ºF (180°C) and line a baking tray with parchment paper, so they're both ready to go later on.

Now, take out a large bowl, and add the butter and brown sugar to it.

Then, with a hand - or stand mixer - cream the two ingredients together until they're soft and light in color. 

Next, add the egg and honey to the creamy mixture and mix everything together with a wooden spoon - or rubber spatula - until just combined.

Step 2: Make The Gingerbread Dough 

Now, add the all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, cinnamon, ginger, all-spice, baking powder, and salt to the bowl of wet ingredients.

Then, mix everything together with the spoon - or spatula - until they fully combine and a gingerbread cookie dough forms. 

Step 3: Roll The Gingerbread Cookie Dough

So, now that you have the gingerbread cookie dough formed you're going to transfer it to a sheet of parchment paper. Then, top it with another sheet of parchment paper and use a rolling pin to roll the dough out until it's about ½ inch thick.

Oh, and if the dough is too sticky, you can lightly flour the surface of the parchment paper to make it easier to work with.

Step 4: Cut Out The Gingerbread cookies

Now it's time to cut out the gingerbread men or women!

To do this, use the cookie cutter of your choice and cut the cookies out. And you'll want to cut out as many shapes as you can from the dough. Then, after you've done that, roll the extra dough back into a ball, flatten it between parchment paper, and then cut out some more shapes until you don't have any dough left.

Now, after you cut out the cookies, you'll want to transfer them to the prepared baking sheet/s. Then, bake the gingerbread cookies for about 10-12 minutes.

Once they're baked to perfection, let them cool on the tray and then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Step 5: Make The Icing 

While the gingerbread cookies cool, you can make the icing.

To make the icing, add the powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and food coloring if you're using any, to a medium bowl.

Then, mix everything until the ingredients combine and form an icing.

By the way, if the icing is too thick, add some more milk. And if it's too thin, add some more powdered sugar.

Anyway, once the baked cookies have cooled, have fun decorating them however you want and enjoy!

How to Store Gingerbread Cookies Without Molasses

As you know, this recipe will make about 16 gingerbread cookies. So there will be plenty for everyone to decorate and eat. But if you need more, just double or triple the recipe!

Now, what I love about this gingerbread cookie recipe is that the cookies store really well. So you can make it in advance before the holiday season gets too hectic.

Undecorated gingerbread cookies will last in an airtight container at room temperature for about 2 weeks. Then, whenever you're ready to eat the cookies, just whip up the icing, decorate, and enjoy!

How to Freeze Gingerbread Cookies

If you want to make this recipe even further in advance, you totally can! The cookies actually keep really well in the freezer.

To freeze, let the gingerbreads cool completely, and then transfer them to a baking sheet and freeze until solid. 

Finally, when the cookies have cooled, transfer them to an airtight container and store sealed for about 3 months.

Then, whenever you're ready for these delicious little cookies, just take them out of the freezer, let them thaw at room temperature, decorate, and enjoy!

Wrapping It All Up

Well, that's how to make gingerbread cookies without molasses! These cute gingerbreads are perfectly crispy yet soft and filled with the most delicious flavors. 

And not only are the gingerbreads delicious, but the recipe is so easy to make with common ingredients.

Honestly, if you try 'em I have a feeling that you'll be making these gingerbread cookies every single holiday season.

As always, if you made these gingerbread cookies without molasses, let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below!

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More Dessert Recipes

If you want to give some more holiday dessert recipes a shot we have a bunch on the blog that you'll love!

Give some of these a try:

• Funfetti cake mix cookies
• Churro cheesecake bars
• Frosted sugar cookies
• No bake Oreo pie
• 3 ingredient Nutella cookies
• M&M sugar cookies
• Reese's peanut butter pie

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