⏳ Yield & Time

Yield: 24 servings

Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 38 minutes

🍽 Ingredients

• 1 cup (2 sticks) Unsalted butter, softened
• 1 ¾ cups Granulated sugar
• 2 Large eggs
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
• 3 ½ cups All-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons Ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon Ground cloves
• ½ teaspoon Baking soda
• ½ teaspoon Salt
• 1-2 tablespoons (optional) Milk
• Enough to frost the cookies Cream cheese frosting (recipe of your choice)

📖 Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line your baking sheets with parchment paper; this prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze. Trust me on this one, I've learned the hard way!
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together 1 cup (2 sticks) of softened unsalted butter and 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar until it's light and fluffy. It should look like whipped cream. Mmm….
3. Beat in two large eggs, one at a time, then stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Don't overmix! Just until combined.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together 3 ½ cups of all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons of ground ginger, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of ground cloves, ½ teaspoon of baking soda, and ½ teaspoon of salt. Remember to add a dash of love!
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. If the batter seems too dry, add a tablespoon or two of milk; if it's too wet, add a little more flour.
6. Once the dough is mixed well, cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. This chilling step is important; it allows the gluten to relax and prevents the cookies from spreading too much. It also gives you time to take a tea break!
7. After chilling, roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about ¼ inch thickness. Use your favorite cookie cutters (or just a knife) to cut out your cookies. My kids love using stars and Christmas trees around the holiday season. Make sure to use a rolling pin! Don't just use your hands!
8. Place the cut-out cookies onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving some space between them. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown. Check them frequently!
9. Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack before frosting. This prevents the frosting from melting.
10. Once the cookies are completely cooled, prepare your frosting. I prefer a simple cream cheese frosting but feel free to use your favorite recipe. The possibilities are endless!
11. Spread frosting on one cookie and top with another to create a sandwich. Get creative with decorations! I like using colored sprinkles. My kids like to use mini marshmallows, but my husband hates them so we avoid them.
12. Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, or freeze them for up to two months. Enjoy!

📝 Notes

• Make sure your butter is properly softened before creaming it with the sugar.
• Don't overmix the dough; this can result in tough cookies.
• Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before rolling it out.
• Let the cookies cool completely before frosting them.
• Get creative with your frosting and decorations!