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Recipe Collections

11 Perfect Holiday Gingerbread Cookie Recipes

There's a huge variety of ways to get your festive fix of gingerbread—from crisp and snappy to soft and chewy, we have all the best recipes right here.
11 Perfect Holiday Gingerbread Cookie Recipes

Produced by Radiyah Chowdhury, Irene Ngo and Aimee Nishitoba; photography by Erik Putz; food styling by Michelle Rabin; Paper art by Ali Harrison of Light + Paper

Gingerbread is an iconic holiday scent—and flavour. And as the holidays approach, there's nothing quite like the aroma of freshly baked gingerbread cookies filling the house.

From our rich and chewy gingerbread, to perfectly crisp gingersnaps and Belgian-style speculaas cookies, the gallery below is more than full of festive inspiration. (We doubt you can choose just one of our gingerbread cookie recipes! And, as always, get all of our holiday cookie recipes here.)

Kooky Biscuiterie’s Glazed Gingerbread Cookies

"We bake cookies that go beyond your imagination. This unique gingerbread cookie is soft and chewy. While our customers say eating these is like having a piece of Christmas in your mouth, we’re confident you’ll enjoy them all year long."—Mathieu Benoit, owner, Sherbrooke, Que. Get Kooky Biscuiterie's Glazed Gingerbread Cookies recipe here.

Kooky Biscuiterie's Glazed Gingerbread CookiesProduced by Radiyah Chowdhury, Irene Ngo and Aimee Nishitoba; photography by Erik Putz; food styling by Michelle Rabin; Paper art by Ali Harrison of Light + Paper

Gingersnaps

These crispy cookies offer a satisfying crunch. And the best part: since the dough can be refrigerated (plus the baked cookies keep for five days in an airtight container), these are great make-ahead treats. Get our gingersnaps recipe.

gingersnap cookiesPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

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Gingerbread Palmier Cookies

What's not to love about flaky puff pastry and ginger-spiced sugar in a chocolate dip? Get our gingerbread palmier cookie recipe.

Gingerbread palmier cookies on round pink platePhoto, Erik Putz. Food Styling, Eshun Mott. Prop Styling, Madeline Johari.

Piparkakku Cookies

Like a nice wine, these cookies get better as they age. The spices in piparkakku (a Finnish version of gingersnaps) continue to develop over the course of a few days. Of course, they’re just as tasty out of the oven, so we don’t blame you if you don’t get to the three-day mark. Get our piparkakku recipe.

piparkakku cookies - gingerbread cookies with royal icingPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Ginger Crackle Cookies

Love gingerbread but not a fan of the crunch? Try this version instead. The oh-so-chewy texture will leave you reaching for a second…or third…or fourth. Get our ginger crackle cookie recipe.

ginger crackle cookiesPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

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Gingerbread Lime Cookies

Inspired by our ginger Moscow mule, these cookies with a zesty hit of lime are sure to make a splash at the cookie exchange. Get our gingerbread lime cookie recipe.

11 Perfect Holiday Gingerbread Cookie RecipesPhoto, Erik Putz.

Speculaas

Germany and the Netherlands have the holidays down to a science and we trust their judgment when it comes to festive treats. Speculaas are spiced shortbread biscuits and pair perfectly with a nice cup of floral tea or rich hot chocolate. Get our speculaas cookie recipe.

speculaas cookiesPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Pfeffernüsse

This cookie is popular in Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark—the Christmas trifecta—so it’s no wonder it’s a great festive staple. Get our pfeffernüsse recipe.

pfeffernusse cookiesPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

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Gingerbread Sandwiches With Marshmallow Frosting

Take your gingerbread up a notch! These cookie sandwiches use an easy 10-minute marshmallow frosting we can’t get enough of. Get our gingerbread sandwiches cookie recipe.

Two star-shaped gingerbread sandwich cookies on a white background.Photo, Liam Morgan.

Classic Gingerbread Cookies

There’s a reason gingerbread cookies are classic holiday fare. The scent evokes memories of years gone, the taste is delicious and they’re easy to decorate into festive favourites. There are a million-plus recipes out there, but this one’s our favourite for decorating. Get our classic gingerbread cookie recipe.

gingerbread cookies decorated with royal icing that can be used as tree ornaments.(photography: Roberto Caruso)

Ginger Molasses Stack Cookies

Taking inspiration from the Austria’s famous Christmas markets, we’ve deconstructed the gingerbread cookie! This recipe alternates a layer of ginger dough with a layer of molasses dough. You still get the delicious gingerbread flavour in each bite, and it looks awesome on a plate. Get our ginger-molasses stack cookies recipe.

Ginger-molasses stacksGinger-molasses stacks recipePhoto by Erik Putz

Assorted cookies on a pink background with the words in white

How to make classic gingerbread cookies

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