Description
These Gingerbread Reindeer cookies are a festive twist on classic gingerbread men, turning them upside down to create adorable reindeer faces. With rich molasses flavor, warm holiday spices, and charming red noses, these cookies are perfect for Christmas baking and decorating fun with the whole family.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1 large egg
- 1 pound confectioners’ sugar
- 5 tablespoons meringue powder
- Black gel food coloring
- Brown gel food coloring
- 18 red cinnamon candies
Instructions
- Whisk together flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, allspice, nutmeg, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
- In another bowl, beat sugar and butter until pale and fluffy. Mix in molasses and egg until combined.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to form a sticky dough. Divide into two disks, wrap, and chill for at least 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll dough to 1/8-inch thickness on a floured surface and cut with a 4-inch gingerbread man cutter.
- Transfer cookies to parchment-lined sheets, bake 12 minutes, then cool on racks completely.
- Prepare royal icing by mixing confectioners’ sugar, meringue powder, and 6 tablespoons water until smooth. Divide into three bowls—white, black, and light brown (thin the brown with a bit of water).
- Pipe black outlines for antlers and facial features, flood the face with brown icing, and add red candies for noses.
- After drying, pipe white eyes and inner ears, then add black pupils and smiles. Let dry 1 hour or overnight.
- Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Notes
- Chill dough thoroughly to prevent spreading.
- Do not overbeat royal icing to avoid bubbles.
- Let each icing layer dry before adding more details.
- For a softer cookie, slightly reduce baking time.
- Store between parchment sheets to protect decorations.
- Prep Time: 1 hour (plus 2 hours chilling)
- Cook Time: 12 minutes per batch
- Category: Dessert, Cookies, Holiday
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 60mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: Gingerbread Reindeer, Christmas cookies, holiday baking, reindeer cookies, festive desserts, gingerbread men, molasses cookies