These easy Gingerbread Sugar Cookies with Eggnog Frosting are quick and delicious, leaving you with plenty of time for your holiday baking. With a winning flavor combination of warm spices and creamy eggnog, these soft and chewy cookies are sure to please.
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Where Did Gingerbread Cookies Come From?
While the origins of gingerbread aren’t entirely known, ginger roots originate in Asia. It is thought that European crusaders brought gingerbread to western Europe after invading the Mediterranean in the 11th century.
The popularity of gingerbread spread throughout Europe in the following centuries, becoming a staple in French traditions and even mentioned in Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost. Today, gingerbread is great for so many uses.
Why This Soft Gingerbread Cookie Recipe is a Keeper
These soft gingerbread sugar cookies with eggnog buttercream frosting are both sophisticated and easy to make. Here are some other reasons why you’re sure to love them:
- 30 Minute Cookie: Prepacked cookie dough makes this gingerbread sugar cookie recipe quick and easy, giving you the time you need for the rest of your holiday plans.
- Adaptable: Can make your own cookies, use store bought and adapt the butter cream as you like
- Makes Great Gifts: A wonderful hostess gift!
If you’re looking for more Christmas cookie recipes, try these Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies, Oreo Hot Chocolate Balls, and Cocoa Cookies.
With over 200 easy and delicious dinner ideas, you'll never have to worry about what to make for dinner again.
What Is the Difference Between Ginger Snaps, Gingerbread Men and Gingerbread Cookies?
While both gingerbread cookies and ginger snaps are spice cookies made with ginger, the biggest difference is the shape and texture. While gingerbread cookies are chewy and typically cut into shapes, ginger snaps are usually round and crispy. Ginger snaps usually have a distinct molasses flavor. While gingerbread cookies are sweet with sugar.
Ingredient Notes for Gingerbread Eggnog Cookies
- Gingerbread Cookie Mix: Using a premade mix will save you lots of time, as it already has all the dry ingredients, brown sugar, and spice. All you need from your kitchen is butter and an egg.
- Eggnog: Use a store bought eggnog, or make your own to serve with these soft ginger cookies.
- Rum: Use the real stuff or try a rum extract the flavor is great.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Variations and Substitutions for Icing and Decorate Gingerbread Cookies
Looking to take your gingerbread sugar cookies with eggnog frosting to the next level? Try these tips:
- Homemade: Have some extra time? Make your favorite gingerbread cookies from scratch with our gingerbread cookie recipe!
- Eggnog: Make homemade eggnog for the icing. Also great for dipping your cookies! It enhances the gingerbread flavor.
- Shapes: Make gingerbread men or other fun shapes, such as gingerbread men.
- Single Cookies: Instead of making these soft gingerbread cookies into sandwiches, make them as single cookies.
- Icing: Use a royal icing or decorate as desired.
How to Make Frosted Gingerbread Sandwich Cookies
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These are the basic steps for making gingerbread cookies with eggnog frosting. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
Step 1: Prep
First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper, or prepare a silicone mat. Then, prepare the cookie dough flour mixture per the package directions. Wrap the dough in a piece of plastic wrap until ready to bake.
Step 2: Bake and Make the Icing Recipe
Next, place cookies on prepared sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake cookies and transfer them from the cookie sheet to a cooling rack to cool completely. Meanwhile, cream butter in the bowl of a stand mixer, or use a handheld electric mixer and large bowl. Add powdered sugar. Beat in egg and whisk in eggnog, nutmeg, rum, and salt until smooth and creamy.
Step 3: Pipe
Next, add buttercream icing to a piping bag with a star tip. Pipe cookie icing mixture onto the bottom of one cookie, then sandwich another cookie on top. Finally, repeat.
Recipe FAQs for the Gingerbread
Expert Tips for Making Gingerbread Sugar Cookies with Eggnog Frosting
- Dust: Dust the gingerbread sugar cookies with a little powdered sugar before serving.
- Decorations: Decorate the cookies with colorful sugar, white sugar, or sprinkles.
- Size: One rounded tablespoon should be the ideal size for these gingerbread sugar cookies.
- Alternate ingredient: Food coloring can be a great addition to the buttercream to make fun, festive colors.
- Chill: It is always a good idea to chill the dough before baking so the cookies hold their shape.
What to Serve with Gingerbread Eggnog Cookies
Gingerbread Sugar Cookies with Eggnog Buttercream
Equipment
Ingredients
Cookies –
- 17.5 ounces gingerbread cookie mix , 1 box + additional ingredients per direction OR your favorite recipe
Eggnog Buttercream –
- 1 cup Butter, softened, room temperature
- 4 cups Confectioners sugar
- 4 tablespoons Eggnog
- ½ teaspoon Nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon Rum, Or rum extract
Instructions
- Prepare cookie batter and bake cookies per package directions and cool completely
- To prepare the buttercream beat the butter until light
- Add in powdered sugar one cup at a time until fully incorporated
- Drizzle in the eggnog, nutmeg, rum, and salt
- Mix until fluffy.
- Place buttercream in a piping bag with a large star tip
- Pair the cookies in two’s
- Pipe a swirl of frosting on the back of one cookie
- Place the second cookie on top of the buttercream top side up to make a sandwich
- Repeat this process for all cookies
Expert Tips
- Dust: Dust the gingerbread sugar cookies with a little powdered sugar before serving.
- Decorations: Use colorful sugar, white sugar or sprinkles.
- Cheat: Buy your favorite premade cookie and make the frosting to create a wonderful cookie.
- Size: One rounded tablespoon should be the ideal size for these gingerbread sugar cookies.
- Alternate ingredient: Food coloring can be a great addition to the buttercream to make fun, festive colors.
- Chill: It is always a good idea to chill your dough before baking.
These are so cute and so different. A great recipe.