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These sweet Chai Gingerbread Cookies are the Christmas cookie everyone is looking for. Made with double the vanilla and sweet brown sugar, these cookies are soft, buttery, and perfectly sweet with the warming flavors of chai in every bite. They’re generously glazed with a sweet, thick, and creamy espresso glaze that truly makes these cookies melt in your mouth. These cookies are fun to bake, delicious to eat, make a great homemade gift, and are a festive addition to your holiday cookie box!
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Hard to believe that this is my first gingerbread cookie recipe I’ve shared with you guys. Sure, I’ve shared a handful of gingerbread recipes over the years, but never an actual gingerbread cookie. One that you cut into sweet little gingerbread boys and girls.
It’s safe to say that I’m excited for today’s recipe! I think everyone needs to have a good gingerbread cookie recipe to bake up every holiday season. These are that perfect gingerbread cookie!
Making these cookies is simple, here are the details.
Before you start the gingerbread cookie dough, make the chai spice mix. It’s a blend of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves mixed with just a bit of sugar. You’ll be using the chai sugar for sprinkling over each cookie just before baking.
Now, make the cookie dough. It comes together in no time. This is a one-bowl kind of gingerbread cookie dough. Just mix your wet ingredients with the dry ingredients, then roll it out. I’m using Land O Lakes® Unsalted Butter, which is always my go-to butter for both baking and cooking. It’s sweet and creamy and always turns out beautiful cookies!
Just like I do with my sugar cookies, I always like to roll out the dough, cut the cookies, and then freeze the cut cookies on a baking sheet for a few minutes. This ensures that the cookies hold their shape. To cut my cookies, I used varying gingerbread and snowflake cookie cutters. But you can use any shapes you have on hand or that your family loves the most.
As the cookies bake, the smells coming from the oven will have you so excited. It’s like Christmas, with cozy scents of Chai, ginger, and sweet sugar wafting throughout your kitchen.
The Sweet and Creamy Frosting
While the cookies cool, make the frosting. I didn’t want to do your basic gingerbread cookie glaze because I think that can be a little boring. I wanted each cookie to really be delicious.
I thought about what flavors I love when paired with chai. Immediately a steaming cup of espresso came to mind. I love adding espresso powder to sweets, so I added it to the frosting. The verdict? Delicious.
Since I wanted this frosting to be sweet and creamy, I used rich Land O Lakes® Heavy Whipping Cream instead of water. This is KEY. The cream adds that creamy, soft texture everyone is looking for in a great frosting.
Decorating Is Easy
To decorate each cookie, simply use the frosting along with assorted sprinkles to make each cookie sparkle. I like to keep them simple and fun!
These are great cookies for kids to decorate. They always end up looking cute no matter what. I always find that the more imperfect they are…the cuter they end up being. Just have fun baking…and eating away!
We couldn’t love these easy gingerbread cookies more. I love the added chai flavor and that frosting really makes them special. Hope you guys love these just as much as I do!
Lastly, if you make these Chai Gingerbread Cookies, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Watch the How To Video:
Chai Gingerbread Cookies
Ingredients
Chai Spice
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon all-spice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
Gingerbread Cookies
- 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) Land O Lakes® Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1/3 cup molasses
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 egg at room temperature
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus an additional 2-4 tablespoons, if needed
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Espresso Frosting
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) Land O Lakes® Unsalted Butter, melted
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1-2 teaspoons instant espresso powder, (optional)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup Land O Lakes® Heavy Whipping Cream
- assorted sprinkles, for decorating
Instructions
- 1. To make the chai spice. In a shallow bowl, combine the cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, all-spice, cloves, and sugar in a glass jar or bowl. Set aside for sprinkling over the cookies. 2. To make the cookies. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar. Add the molasses and vanilla, beat until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Add the egg and mix until combined. Add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and salt, beat until combined and the dough forms a ball. If the dough feels too wet to roll out, add 2-4 tablespoons of additional flour.3. Divide the dough in half. Roll out the dough on a floured piece of parchment to 1/4 inch thickness. Make sure you're using enough flour or your dough will stick. Cut out the cookies using gingerbread cookie cutters. Carefully transfer the cookies to a parchment-lined baking sheet. I recommend using a floured spatula to lift the cookies. Sprinkle each cookie with the chai sugar. Cover the baking sheet and place in the freezer. Freeze until firm, about 20-30 minutes. Roll out the leftover scraps, and repeat with the remaining dough.4. Preheat oven to 350° F. Bake the cookies on the middle rack of the oven for 8-10 minutes. Cool on the baking sheet 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.5. Meanwhile, make the frosting. In a medium bowl, whisk together the butter, powdered sugar, espresso (if using), vanilla, and cream until smooth and drizzly. If needed, thin the glaze by adding additional cream, 1 tablespoon at a time, until drizzly. 6. Decorate each cookie as desired with frosting and sprinkles. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Made these last night! Very tasty. I highly reccomend halving the icing and sugar topping recipe. Thanks for the inspo!
Hey Mel,
Awesome! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I’m so glad to hear it turned out well! Happy Holidays!🎄 xx
My favorite cookies! I make them every year for our Christmas exchange. I make one batch with the chai/espresso icing and another plain for the kids. Delicious!!!!
Hi Marissa,
Happy Holidays!🎄🎁☃️ Thanks a lot for making this recipe, I’m so glad to hear it turned out well! XxT
These are simply delicious! The Chai Spice sugar and the frosting add such a wonderful twist to the traditional gingerbread cookies. I’m currently making a second batch!
Thanks so much for trying out the recipe! Have a wonderful holiday season! xT
Does the icing on these set like a royal icing or does it stay soft?
Such a fun twist!
Just wondering if you have suggestions of what to do with leftover chai spice mix. I have lots leftover…
I was thinking the same thing and didn’t want to be waste all the spices. I may trying a chai spice snickerdoodle.
It would be yummy in a latte or coffee! Or use it in cake/more cookies 🙂 xT
Can the dough be chilled overnight then cut and baked instead of freezing after cutting and then baking? Or will they lose their shape?
Yes, that should work just fine! xT
Can we freeze the cookie dough overnight or even for a couple days?
Yes you can! 🙂 xT
These cookies were a hit and so delicious! One question: how can I make sure the frosting will set and not stay runny? The frosting was tasty but it was easy to smear and i think I may have missed a step.
Thanks!
I love that these have a twist on a normal gingerbread cookie. Flavors came out really well and the recipe was really easy to follow. Personally, this is a cookie I will be happily remaking every year.
A wonderful smell is filling up the house! These cookies have a nice spice and are not super sweet. I did not add the espresso icing since we don’t like super sweet treats. I used miniature cookie cutters and made all kinds of holiday shapes. My husband loves them! I also made a double batch for our annual fundraiser Christmas Bazaar and these were perfect. Thank you as always for great recipes that we can play with to create our own touch.
Hey Kim,
Amazing!! So glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for making it:) xT
Are these sturdy enough to make a gingerbread house with this recipe? Love your recipes!!
Hi Colleen,
So sorry, I probably would not recommend that! Please let me know if I can help in any other way! xx
Made these as round cookies with chai spice and they were delicious! I ended up using the spices I had access too for the chai spice and it was still delicious. For a fuller cookie I added another 1/2 cup of granulated sugar to the top of the recipe. I added a 1/4 tsp of nutmeg and 1/4 tsp of cloves into the flour as well for optimal flavorful ginger. I did not attempt icing, doesn’t need it! Thanks for your recipes. Your baking recipes are always amazing and my favorite online blog/cook book!
Hey Carly,
Happy New Year!🎆🎈 I appreciate you making this recipe and your comment! So glad to hear it was enjoyed! xx
I made these for Christmas and they were a big hit! They were the perfect consistency and weren’t too sweet, but the icing gave it the perfect balance of sweet and spiced.
Hey Heather,
Happy Monday!❄️ I am so glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xx
My family loved the flavor of these cookies! And the icing. But, the icing was not the right consistency. I think I should have let the brown butter cool before putting it in the icing.
Hey Shelby,
I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, I am so glad to hear it was enjoyed! You can also add some milk to the icing. Merry Christmas! 🎁🎄
Making these today! Quick question – is the icing “sturdy” enough to store the little men upright in a cookie tin? Or laying down in a tin? Or will I end up with squashed frosting everywhere?
Hey Sarah,
I would store flat and layer with wax paper. Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx