Gingerbread Cookies that Won’t Spread
A delicious gingerbread cookie recipe that’s perfect for cookie cutters and embossing rolling pins as this dough won’t spread in the oven while baking.
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If you’re using cookie cutters or an embossed rolling pin like I’ve used, you want to be sure you use a no-spread cookie recipe. Try out my recipe for no-spread gingerbread cookies!
Baking with Embossing Rolling Pins
I’ve seen these adorable laser engraved rolling pins (or embossed rolling pins) on Etsy and all over the internet for years, and I have always wanted to try one out. THIS was the year I ordered one to try.
I wanted a design that I could use year-round so I went with this darling bow pattern, but you can truly find ANY pattern. There are dog breeds, monograms, seasonal patterns, geometric patterns, a million ideas…
- I ordered mine from Rolling Woods on Etsy, and I can attest the quality is fabulous! It came in a cute box with instructions and details. The rolling pin even smelled like Christmas spices, it was amazing. Haha! These would make the BEST gift!
- More on the embossing rolling pin. I used a regular rolling pin to get the dough about 1/4-1/2″ thick. Then I pressed (evenly) with the embossed rolling pin as I rolled it across the dough. You do want to be sure you add a little flour across the top of the dough. I also sprinkled extra on the embossing rolling pin to make sure it didn’t stick.
- I used circle and tree cookie cutters on top of the “bow dough”. I LOVE how they turned out! These would be so cute packaged up for neighbors or friends. I think I’ll add a chocolate drizzle and sprinkles next time. There are so many ways to dress these up.
- Next up, I want to try using these rolling pins on pie crusts!
Gingerbread Cookie Dough that Won’t Spread in the Oven
I knew I needed a no-spread gingerbread dough if I wanted to use these rolling pins. If the dough spread out, the bows would lose their shape, and that would not be pretty.
Alas, this gingerbread dough is PERFECT. It isn’t an overly sweet cookie, however, but more of a gingerbread shortbread or harder cookie. It does have a lot of Christmas spices in it because I LOVE their flavors, but you could cut back on the spices without affecting the recipe to tailor it to your favorite flavors.
If you want a chewy cookie with lots of ginger flavor, try my Chewy Molasses Cookies!
More Ideas for Gingerbread Dough
Since these gingerbread cookies aren’t super sweet, they lend themselves towards a dusting of powdered sugar or a glaze. You could even dip them in chocolate or white chocolate.
YUM! I enjoyed them plain, however, and they were delightful with a cup of coffee or tea. They’re just not a super sweet, ooey gooey cookie.
This gingerbread cookie dough would also be great for gingerbread houses, but if you aren’t up to the task of building houses from scratch, check out my DIY Gingerbread Houses made with graham crackers!
I use this dough for my Gingerbread House Cookie Decorating Board and it worked beautifully! The houses all hold their shapes including the little cut-out windows and doors!
Gingerbread Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter - room temperature
- 1 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 2 large eggs
- 1/3 cup cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a stand mixer fit with a paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar until fluffy (about 2-3 minutes).
- Add molasses and beat until combined and smooth.
- Add eggs, one at a time. Scrape down sides of bowl if needed.
- Add cornstarch, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt. Mix until combined.
- Add flour in 1 cup increments, mixing just until combined and dough comes together. If dough is too sticky, add more flour.
- Roll out dough to about 1/2″ thick and use cookie cutters or embossing rolling pins to cut out shapes. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Allow to cool.
Nutrition
I hope you’ll try out these gingerbread cookies this holiday season! For a few other Christmas treat ideas, check out these cookies below!
Love this – they turn out so well and look so cute!!
Great gingerbread recipe for embossed rolling pin..first time I have used this rolling pin and was getting frustrated wi
With my recipe..will add a little more hi
ginger..cookies came out good..need to
to add a little more pressure to get
design..will use recipe again..do you
have a sugar cookie too?
Happy New Year
Is the serving size for the calories 1/24 of the recipe (one cookie)?
Cookies came out super cute, but they are not flavorful enough.
Were the cookies in the picture made with this recipe? My dough was quite dark from the brown sugar and molasses so that the pattern got lost.
Hi Helene! Yes, they were! I’m sorry yours turned out darker, I’m not sure what would have caused that, perhaps baking time?
I was looking for a recipe that I could use my cat impression rolling pin. This worked great. Easy to work with and hold the shape :0)
Most of the embossed pin recipes I have seen require dough to be refrigerated before rolling the cookies out and also before baking. Does this dough need to be refrigerated?
Lori, it can be but I don’t refrigerate this dough if I bake it right away.
Hi, I am not a big fan of molasses. Do you think I can use honey instead?
Hannah, Honey wouldn’t produce the same results. It could be worth a try, but it’s not something I’ve done.
These cookies are amazing. My entire apartment smells like gingerbread. I’ve made these twice now specifically to use with my growing collection of embossed rolling pins.
I’m making these for the second time. It’s a wonderful recipe. Easy to put together, works beautifully with my embossing rolling pins, and makes my apartment redolent of gingerbread. This is definitely a “keeper” recipe!
Ooops. Third time!