Gingerbread Christmas Tree Cookies
These adorable Gingerbread Christmas Tree Cookies are the perfect balance of sweet and spicy, making them a delightful treat for the holiday season. With a soft texture and festive decorations, they're great for sharing or gifting. Bake a batch to bring joy to your family gatherings this year!
Equipment
- Wooden Spoon
- Mixing Bowl
- Oven
- Baking Sheet
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons Unsalted butter Softened for better mixing.
- 3/4 cup Firmly packed brown sugar Provides sweetness and moisture.
- 1/2 cup Unsweetened applesauce Keeps the cookies moist.
- 1 large Egg Acts as a binder.
- 1/3 cup Dark molasses Essential for authentic flavor.
- 3 cups All-purpose flour Main structure of the cookie.
- 1 teaspoon Baking soda Helps cookies rise.
- 2 teaspoons Ground ginger Gives the gingerbread flavor.
- 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon Adds warmth.
- 1/2 teaspoon Allspice Enhances flavor complexity.
- 1/4 teaspoon Ground cloves Adds aromatic qualities.
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Egg whites For icing.
- 1/4 teaspoon Fresh lemon juice Brightens icing flavor.
- 1 cup Powdered sugar For sweetening and thickening icing.
- 1 cup Colored sprinkles For decorating.
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter, brown sugar, and applesauce until smooth. Add the egg and dark molasses, mixing well.
- In another large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, allspice, and ground cloves. Whisk together.
- Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet mixture, stirring well. Use your hands to form a large ball, the dough will be a little sticky.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Dust your working area with flour, and roll out the dough to 1/8-inch thickness.
- Cut the dough into triangles to resemble trees, and place them on a silpat-lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until firm to the touch. Let cool.
- Prepare the icing by mixing the egg whites with lemon juice and then combining with powdered sugar. Add green food coloring as desired.
- Once cooled, decorate the cookies with the icing and add the sprinkles.
- Let the icing set before serving or storing.
Notes
- Storage: Store your cookies in an airtight container.
- Freezing: Freeze cooled cookies for up to three months.
- Pairing: Enjoy with hot chocolate or spiced tea.
- Decorating: Use various sprinkles for fun designs.