Gingerbread Snowflakes with Royal Icing

Enjoy the festive flavors of the holiday season with these delicate gingerbread snowflakes, drizzled with a smooth and glossy royal icing that sets to a beautiful hard finish. Perfect for decorating and gifting!

Ingredients

For Gingerbread Snowflakes
1	cup softened butter
1	cup sugar
1	cup molasses
1	cup water
5	cups all-purpose flour
2 1⁄2	teaspoons ginger powder
1 1⁄2	teaspoons baking soda
1 1⁄2	teaspoons cinnamon
1⁄2	teaspoon allspice
1⁄4	teaspoon salt
For Royal Icing
3 3⁄4	cups confectioners' sugar
1⁄4	cup water
1 1⁄2	teaspoons light corn syrup
1⁄2	teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

• Baking Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Prepare ungreased baking sheets.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
  4. Mix in the molasses and water.
  5. In a separate bowl, combine the all-purpose flour with ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, and salt; then add it to the creamed mixture and mix until fully incorporated.
  6. Cover the bowl and let the dough chill in the refrigerator for 1 to 1-1/2 hours, or until it is easy to handle.
  7. Lightly flour a work surface.
  8. Roll out the chilled dough to a thickness of 1/4 inch.
  9. Using star-shaped cookie cutters (approximately 2-1/2 inches wide) dipped in flour, cut out snowflake shapes.
  10. Place the dough snowflakes on the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches of space between each.
  11. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are firm.
  12. Transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool.

• Royal Icing Instructions

  1. In a bowl, combine confectioners' sugar, water, light corn syrup, and vanilla until smooth and well combined.
  2. Transfer the icing to a heavy-duty small plastic bag, then cut a small hole in one corner of the bag.
  3. Pipe the icing around the edges of the cookies or as desired; the icing will harden upon standing.

Jul 24, 2024