Even with the mad rush during the holiday season, I always look forward to baking with my favorite kitchen helper, my son Warren. He may be only four but he has helped me bake so many things the past couple of years and is actually heartbroken when I make something without him. Last Friday morning, completely oblivious to anything going on outside our home, Warren and I decided to make some gingerbread cookies.
Whenever I’m making rollout cookies, there are a few items I think I essential. That includes good cookie sheets like those from Wilton, parchment paper for easy cleanup and perfect cookie bottoms and a jumbo metal spatula to easily transfer my cookies from my work surface to my cookie sheets. Another trick is to roll your cookies directly out on the cookie sheet but because I like to use parchment paper and I always try to roll out my cookies the least amount of times possible, I prefer to transfer them instead.
For my gingerbread cookies, I picked out this recipe from McCormick spices on allrecipes.com.
- 3 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons McCormick® Ginger, Ground
- 1 teaspoon McCormick® Cinnamon, Ground
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon McCormick® Nutmeg, Ground
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup butter, softened
- ¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar
- ½ cup molasses
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract
- Mix dry ingredients (flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg and salt) in large bowl. Set aside.
- Beat softened (but not melted) butterand brown sugar in large bowl until light and fluffy.
- Add molasses, egg and vanilla. Mix well. Gradually beat in dry ingredients on low speed until well mixed.
- Press dough into a thick flat disk. Wrap in plastic wrap.
- Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. (I like to wait until the following day to avoid extra stickiness)
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Roll out dough to ¼-inch thickness on lightly floured work surface. Cut into gingerbread men shapes with 5-inch cookie cutter. Place 1 inch apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking sheet. (You can alternatively use just an ungreased sheet.)
- Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges of cookies are set and just begin to brown. Cool on baking sheets 1 to 2 minutes.
- Remove to wire racks; cool completely. Decorate cooled cookies as desired. Store cookies in airtight container up to 5 days. Keep in mind if you seal the container completely your cookies will soften over time. To keep them firmer, do not completely seal the container.
These Christmas gingerbread cookies were fairly simple to mix up and Warren and I took care of that the day before, letting it chill overnight. We received these fun Christmas Stencil Cookie Cutters ($5.99) from Wilton to try out. While I normally prefer metal cookie cutters, I love how easy this decorate our cookies before they went into the oven with some beautiful sparkling sugars.
I found using the lid from the sugars worked perfectly for Warren to pour into the stencil. You can easily move the excess sugar around with your fingers or a toothpick to make sure you get every crevice. In this case I just let Warren do whatever he wanted. It turned out great! Just be sure not to overload the tops or you’ll get a huge sugar mess on the top of your cookie.
We also left some cookies plain for decorating later on, including with Wilton Holiday Sugar Sheets ($3.99). The round cutter that I used for these cookies however was a bit big and I wasn’t as thrilled with the look of them over the oversized cookie. I think I would like these for when I’m in a pinch or for cupcakes. I find people remove them before eating anyway and I prefer the look of the sugars or cinnamon drops.
My favorite cookies were the snowmen in which we used Rainbow Sparkling Sugars ($4.49) and the snowflakes with Pearlized Sapphire Sugars ($4.49). Against the darker background the blue just pops!
Wilton has some great options for presenting your cookies as gifts. I also like to use them for candy. It can take a rather simple group of candy and make it look like a special gift indeed. These Gifting Treats & Sweets Treat Boxes ($3.99) are perfect for small cookies, fudge or candies.
Next up is using this 3-D Mini Tree Silicone Mold ($9.99) to make trees out of rice krisipe treats, a favorite of ours!
BUY IT:
All of these products and more are available for purchase from Wilton. Items ship free on orders of $50+ and you’ll find plenty of items currently on sale! Be sure to check out your local craft store such as Michaels, AC Moore or Jo-Ann Fabrics to find them or check out the Wilton store locator. You’ll even find select and exclusive products at your nearby Target and Wal-mart!
jacqueline says
sugar cookies
Jessica S says
I love to make peppermint sugar cookies!
latanya says
sugar cookies
Christine says
Almond crescents! Covered in powdered sugar…
Christina says
Sugar Cookies (for the kids – they love them and love to decorate them) … and molasses cookies because they remind me of my grandma!
Julie Wood says
I like to make my soft decorated Sugar Cookies every year!
Jenn says
My favorite cook to to bake is chocolate chip.
Rachel S says
Snickerdoodles! I love the added touch of cinnamon. 🙂
Rust says
mexican wedding cookies!
carol lewis says
The butter ones we roll out and decorate.
Annmarie W. says
I love making (and eating!) peanut blossoms, those peanut butter cookies with the Hershey kiss on top!
Joyce Harrell says
We love decorated sugar cookies!
Kristie says
Ginger snaps! 🙂
julie rmr says
gingerbread!!!
Jenny H says
I love to make iced sugar cookies
Cari S says
Oreo Truffles!
jessica says
chocolate chip!
Sarah says
I love making cream cheese spritz cookies!
Melissa M says
Cat poop cookies aka no bake oatmeal cookies lol
Rich Hicks says
Like to make sugar cookies
ardy22 at earthlink dot net
Marci says
I like making snowball cookies!
jodi frasier says
I love making peanut butter blossoms. Thanks for the giveaway
Jennifer R says
I enjoy making iced, decorated sugar cookies during the holiday season.
Shawna says
My favorite cookie to bake during the Holiday season is Mexican Wedding Cakes because they are so festive, easy to make and yummy! Thanks for the chance to win!
Sheryl says
I like to make iced pumpkin cookies.
Carrie says
My favorite is definitely sugar cookies
nannypanpan says
sugar cookies
[email protected]
Jordan Y says
Chocolate Chip.
Mary Beth Elderton says
I like to make Wedding Cookies (at least, that’s what we call them)–almond flavor, nuts, sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Jen F says
Sugar cookies covered in frosting!
Elizabeth Turner says
so many, but spritz cookies lately…
elizabethglassturner (at) gmail (dot) com
Solducky says
frosted sugar cookies!
joanne major says
peanut butter with hersheys kisses
sandra says
gingerbread men
Steph says
I like making cut out sugar cookie with icing.
Janet W. says
We love making gingerbread cookies during the holiday season!
Sue Farrell says
My favorites are Russian tea cakes.
angie says
we love peppermint kringles
Crissa Robertson says
I like making hopscotch cookies
Elle says
I make a molasses spice cookie that has a bit of a kick!
Janine says
Peanut butter! 🙂
Jennifer says
we love to make gingerbread men!
carole says
like to make cut out cookies with the grandkids
Andrea M says
Snickerdoodles!
Erica says
gingerbread men
Tami Vollenweider says
I like Cocoons
Debra Hall says
i like the one with the hersheys kiss in the middle
Nancy says
I like to bake Potato Chip Cookies.
Letessha says
Sugar cookies!
Terri says
I like to make sugar cookies
Laura C says
I like Chocolate Chips
Kelly D says
We like to bake almond cookies.
Ashley Hatten says
sour cream cookies
Sylvia White says
I like sugar cookies that I can decorate and lemon bars
Kimberly Schotz says
I like to make decorated sugar cookies
Jennifer Nickell says
sugar cookies and snickerdoodle cookies! =)
Mary Somerville says
Peanut Butter Kisses!
Patti Hess says
Mine are Snickerdoodles
pattifritz2000 at yahoo dot com
thank you
Maryann says
Sugar cookies are our favorite
Ellen Thrifty & Chic Mom says
I love making holly wreaths
anna says
a gingerbread cookie!
Patricia says
Sugar Cookies
Angela Neynaber says
I like to make peanut butter cookies.
Angela P says
I love making and decorating sugar cookies
Tina says
My daughter loves to help me make snickerdoodles.
Beulah says
Sugar cookies with tons of sprinkles!
sowingstitches [at] gmail [dot] com
Mary Williams says
I love no bake cookies!
Rochel S says
Sugar cookies!
ashley says
cut out cookies!
Beth R says
Butter cookies with icing
Rebecca says
Sugar cookies with icing!
Sonya Morris says
Sugar cookies with royal icing.
Cindi says
I enjoy making cut-out butter cookies during Christmas…
Many thanks, Cindi
Natalie J Vandenberghe says
My favorite cookie to bake during the holiday season is sugar cookies (which my kids frost & decorate) Thanks for the giveaway!
Jennifer A. says
Sugar cookies!
Samantha C. says
We love making gingerbread cookies!
Jessica O says
Russian Tea Cakes are my favorite!
Jodi says
Butter Cookies
Kaylan says
Sugar cookies!
D SCHMIDT says
I like to bake snickerdoodles.
Maribel F says
Chocolate chip with mint and gingerbread cookies.
erica says
I love making sugar cookies and decorating them with my son!
Alissa Apel says
Sugar Cookies: The snowman to be particular.
Courtney Sanders says
coconut chocolate chip! YUMMMM!!
corinne says
Vanilla Kipferl
Nesca C says
Has to be sugar cookies and chocolate chip cookies
Betty Baez says
Sugar cookies they’re my kids favorite!
Christy Anderson says
I like to bake sugar cookies and decorate them.
Amanda Koopman says
sugar cookie cutouts, love using the cutters when i was a kid, and now my kids love it too!
Erika P. says
Peppermint pattie cookies
Amber says
I love baking cookies and fresh baked breads! 🙂
debbie says
I like making gingerbread cookies
debbie jackson says
sour cream sugar cookies debbie jackson
djackson1958 at hotmail dot com
Elizabeth Wisniewski says
I love making sugar cookies
Sherry Conrad says
Snowball cookies.
nancy says
gingerbread cookies
Thanks!
Nancy
Carrie Phelps says
Definitely sugar cookies because they’re so easy for my grandchildren to work with.
Christel E. says
Snickerdoodles!
Heather says
Sugar cookies:)
Becky Davis says
I like to bake sugar cookies and gingerbread men.
Jennifer Young says
Chocolate chocolate chip!
Katy P says
Mexican Wedding Cookies!
Jennifer H says
choc mint! 🙂
JLin says
Sugar cookies
Laura Jacobson says
I love to make spritz!
Jackeline Davila says
Alway chocolate chip!
April Yedinak says
My Uncle Carl’s Sugar Cookies. They have a dash of nutmeg and are so soft and yummy!
ally marie says
i love to make chocolate chip cookies
robyn paris says
i enjoy making cut out cookies
zevah steres says
sugar cookies, chocolate chip, peanut butter 🙂
Tracy Pryor says
Sugar cookies!
Allyson Tice says
Grinch crinkle cookies!
Daniel M says
snickerdoodles!
gina phillips says
oatmeal butterscotch cookies;)
Leslie L. Stanziani says
We make sugar cookies to decorate the most.
Lisa M says
I usually bake a handful of different kinds at the holidays. Peanut Butter Blossoms, Sand Tarts, Snickerdoodle, Sugar Cookies, and Chocolate Chip Cookies. When I was a kid, my favorite were what we used to call “cut out cookies” – I think they are a type of butter cookie or something. My husband’s favorite is Sand Tarts, but I like them all! 🙂
Jennifer Mae Hiles says
My favorite cookie to bake is sugar cookies and then the kids and me make frosting and decorate them! So much fun 🙂
Sue Ellison says
Snickerdoodles
Miz Vickik says
sugar cookies with sprinkles!
domestic diva says
Gingerbread and macaroons.
Liberty Boblett says
I love peanut butter cookies and white chocolate chip cookies!
Michelle Heasley (Car Seat) says
Sugar Cookies
Patricia Wojnar Crowley says
I love making sugar cookies!
shawna says
Sugar cookies!
Christine says
sugar cookies
Laura Love says
My favorite cookie to bake during the Christmas season is the family recipe for Spritz. It is a holiday tradition.
angie says
I bake sugar cookies.
Amanda Alvarado says
I love making Monster cookies!
Stephanie w says
Sugar cookies
Sus says
Andes mint coconut cookies
Erica C. says
Sugar cookies are the best.
Danielle D says
sugar cookies or gingerbread man
Dorothy Deakyne says
sugared cut out cookies are my favorite
alyce poalillo says
Sugar cookies and Russian teacakes
Chelsea O. says
Spritz cookies
Pauline M says
My favorite is snickerdoodle cookies, but I tend to eat way to many of them 🙂
Kristi C says
My favorite is walnut chocolate chip cookies.
Eileen says
Gingersnaps are my favorite!
Kim S. says
Ina Garten’s Jam Thumbprint Cookies
Marj M. says
My favorite to make are Pecan Shortbread Cookies.
gourdsrmylife(at)yahoo(dot)com
Katherine says
Snickerdoodles
michelle jonassen says
My favorite are peanut butter kiss cookies!!! Yummy!
Paula Michele Hafner says
I like making sugar cookies with royal icing.
Cassandra Holdeman says
We love to make sour cream roll-out sugar cookies (the recipe I use doesn’t have to chill for hours first which is a huge plus in my book) with cream cheese frosting.
Michelle W says
My favorite cookies to bake are the sugar cookies with the hershey kiss inside
Ellie W says
My favorite cookies to bake are pecan pie cookies.
Linda Lansford says
I like to make sugar cookies
KIM H says
Sugar cut outs are my favorite
Joanne Gregory says
Chocolate chip cookies
Mary Calabrese says
Snickerdoodles are my favorite.
Michelle Tucker says
Sugar cookies with cinnamon icing.
carol says
sugar cookies are my favorite, then you could decorate them any way you want
Kimberly Rice says
Sugar cookies
1955nurse says
Marzipan cookies are my fav, followed by Spritz cookies & Rosettes!!!(HollyC) Thanks for the chance, Happy Holidays!
Tarah says
Gingerbread cookies! Love them!
Allison says
Of course gingerbread cookies. They are so fun to decorate with the kids who love tasting the decorations…lol
Eileen Burke says
We love butter balls
Stephanie says
Just plain old chocolate chip cookies
Tamra H says
Love good ol’ chocolate chip cookies!
Emily N says
I make sugar cookies.
Sarah says
Sugar cookies, chocolate chip, macadamia white chocolate!
Rachel says
Peanut butter cookies
Amy Z. says
Love baking gingerbread cookies!
Rachel J says
Gingerbread or gingersnaps!
Monique Rizzo says
Tea Cookies.
Thanks for the chance.
[email protected]
Samantha Meyer says
I like to make spritzer cookies!
Melissa P. says
Snickerdoodles
Deborah says
My favorite would be roll-out sugar cookies in many shapes and decorations!
Katie Sexton says
gingerbread cookies!!
Aisha Belisario says
Sugar cookies and chocolate chip cookies
Susan Smith says
Sugar Cookies
Jammie says
Chocolate chip peanut butter ones are my favorite to bake.
Rochelle says
I love baking gingerbreadmen cookies during this time of year. Thanks!
Rochelle says
I also love to make sugar cookies.
Vikki Billings says
Sugar cookies with frosting are my favorite to make
Denise S says
Sugar cookies with frosting.
Mary DeBorde says
My favorites are Peanut Butter Blossom cookies <3
Lisa L says
I like making sugar cookies so the kids can decorate them
Maria B. says
Love Sugar cookies!
Heather Slater says
Mexican wedding cakes!
purplelarkspur says
I like a classic butter cookie!
Jessica Barnhart says
sugar cookies, they’re reserved for christmas only
Robin O says
I love making Santa-shaped sugar cookies!
Paula @ Frosted Fingers says
I like peppermint white chocolate chip!
Amanda says
sugar cookies! yum yum I think I want to go bake some now…
Karine Traverse says
Jam thumbprints, love those
Ruth V. says
My grandmother’s “orange” cookies. They are light and have just a touch of orange flavor to them!
Melanie says
My favorites to bake (and eat!) are Merry Christmas cookies (ginergerbread) and lemon bars 🙂
Laurel O. says
I love making sugar cookies and snickerdoodles!
Chrissy Sparks says
Love to make peppermint pinweels! YUM! Goes perfect with peppermint hot chocolate.
trixx says
My favorite is the classic gingerbread… yum! trixpixel[at]gmail.com
Kate @ DCL says
molasses cookies 🙂
BusyWorkingMama says
I love peanut butter oatmeal.
Heather R says
Decorated Sugar Cookies!
June Jones says
Trying to start a tradition of making gingerbread cookies.
Sarah L says
Candy cane cookies.
Thanks for the contest.
Tamar says
Sugar cookies
KATHY DALTON says
i love toll house
laura ari says
Snowballs are my favorite to bake and eat!
Cordelia says
Sugar cookies with colored sugar!!
christine jessamine says
i love making gingerbread cookies!
Beverly M says
My favorite Christmas cookie is the sugar cookie, you can make them in lots of different shapes and decorate them any way you want. I love the Wilton stencil, that would make decorating cookies a lot easier. Thanks for having this contest!
Julie Harris says
Snickerdoodles!!
Denise M says
i love making peppermint bark cookies
Priscilla Benavides says
I like Gingerbread Cookies!
[email protected]
Rosey says
My favorite is sugar cookies because they are fun to decorate for the holidays.
kristy says
peanut butter topped with a hershey kiss
ANN*H says
Like you son Warren, my 4 year old grandson AJ loves to help me bake to. The first thing we did was apple dumplings , now he thinks we need to bake everyday LOL
Wilton is the best around I trust them totally. This cookie cutters are so nice never seen anything like them before. We will have fun with these when we make our gingerbread cookiesl. Thanks for the review/