Description
Indulge in the festive spirit with these Soft Gingerbread Cookies topped with Vanilla Bean Buttercream Frosting and Salted Caramel. Perfectly spiced and decadently rich, these cookies are a delightful treat for any holiday gathering or cozy evening by the fire. With their soft texture and sweet toppings, they are sure to impress friends and family alike. Whether you’re baking for a holiday party or simply treating yourself, this recipe is sure to be a favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup molasses
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped out
- 1 cup granulated sugar (for caramel)
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (for caramel)
- ½ cup heavy cream (for caramel)
- 1 teaspoon sea salt (for caramel)
Instructions
- Whisk together flour, baking soda, spices, and salt in a medium bowl. In another bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Mix in molasses, egg, and vanilla.
- Gradually combine dry ingredients with wet mixture; refrigerate dough for at least 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C), roll chilled dough into balls, flatten slightly on lined baking sheets, and bake for 8-10 minutes until set.
- For frosting, beat softened butter with powdered sugar; add heavy cream and vanilla bean seeds until fluffy.
- For salted caramel, melt sugar in a saucepan until golden; mix in butter, then heavy cream and sea salt.
- Once cookies cool, frost with buttercream and drizzle caramel on top.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Holiday
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie (40g)
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: <1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 20mg