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  5. 22 Gingerbread Recipes to Keep You Feeling Festive

22 Gingerbread Recipes to Keep You Feeling Festive

marissa wu
By Marissa Wu December 15, 2021
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Chocolate-Gingerbread-Toffee Cake
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Gingerbread is practically synonymous with December. Whether that means dusting off your gingerbread cookie recipe card or thumbing through gingerbread house kits on the shelves at the store, the appearance of gingerbread is a universal signal that Christmas is near. Is there any better way to spread a little holiday cheer than filling homes and cookie tins with the warm, fragrant scent of clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger? Brown sugar and molasses are essential as well. We've compiled a list of fun bakes from an easy gingerbread recipe for houses and people to grown-up treats like gingerbread biscotti and martinis. After all, who said we couldn't have it as a nightcap, too? Whatever way you choose to indulge in the classic Christmas flavor, make sure to spread the joy. We're certain Santa will appreciate a taste of these treats—including that Gingerbread Martini.

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Gingerbread Biscotti

gingerbread biscotti
Credit: Photographer: Frederick Hardy II, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Recipe: Gingerbread Biscotti

Anyone who's ever enjoyed this crisp Italian cookie knows how lovely it is dunked in hot coffee. Let your guests start their Christmas morning with our crunchy Gingerbread Biscotti. Trust us, you'll want to make extras.

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Gingerbread Martini

gingerbread martini
Credit: Photographer: Frederick Hardy II, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Recipe: Gingerbread Martini

Nightcap, anyone? These elegant martinis are great as a pre-dinner holiday drink or with dessert. The only imperative is that they appear on your menu.

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Chocolate Gingerbread Wreath Cookies

Chocolate Gingerbread Wreath Cookies
Credit: Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones

Recipe: Chocolate Gingerbread Wreath Cookies

Stuff these cookies into your Christmas tins and prepare for nothing but squeals of delight over how cute they are.

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Chocolate-Gingerbread Christmas Tree Cookies

Chocolate-Gingerbread Christmas Tree Cookies
Credit: Joy Howard

Recipe: Chocolate-Gingerbread Christmas Tree Cookies

Why bring regular old sugar cookies to the cookie swap when you can bring spiced—and iced—gingerbread instead?

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Gingerbread Brownies with Eggnog Frosting

Gingerbread Brownies With Eggnog Frosting
Credit: The Home Edit

Recipe: Gingerbread Brownies with Eggnog Frosting

It's a holiday duo you can't turn down. Gingerbread spice meets creamy eggnog icing in a dessert that's sure to wow at Christmas Eve dinner.

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Gingerbread Muffins

Gingerbread Muffins
Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Gingerbread Muffins

We'll be the first to admit that these definitely lean into the cupcake category. But, serve without icing and it's a passable breakfast treat. Save the frosting for later when you offer them as cupcakes in the afternoon.

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Gingerbread Cake with Stout Buttercream

Gingerbread Cake With Stout Buttercream
Credit: William Dickey

Recipe: Gingerbread Cake with Stout Buttercream

Does the list of spices make you weary of trying gingerbread at home? Lucky you, this recipe starts with a box of gingerbread cake mix. All you need to do is bring the beer and frosting finishes.

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Gingerbread Pancakes

Gingerbread Pancakes
Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Gingerbread Pancakes

Start your day off on a merry note with these pancakes, lightly spiced with ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Instead of maple syrup, try serving with warm applesauce and salted butter instead.

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Old-Fashioned Gingerbread Recipe

Brown Sugar-and-Ginger Whipped Cream
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Old-Fashioned Gingerbread Recipe

Every home baker needs a solid, old-fashioned recipe for gingerbread in their arsenal. Here's our humble offering—and we think it's pretty great, if we do say so ourselves.

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Gingerbread Cake Roll with Eggnog Cream

Gingerbread Roulade and Eggnog Cream
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Gingerbread Cake Roll with Eggnog Cream

Fresh ginger, bourbon, and molasses make this dark and spicy gingerbread cake the ideal complement to the creamy eggnog filling. Go on, cut a second slice. And cut us one, too, while you're at it.

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Upside Down Pear-and-Gingerbread Cake

Gingerbread-and-Pear Upside-Down Cake
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Upside Down Pear-and-Gingerbread Cake

Consider this the most underrated fall and holiday dessert ever. Scoot aside that recipe card for pineapple upside down cake or tart tatin and try this pear and gingerbread version instead.

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Gingerbread Reindeer Cookies

Gingerbread Cookies
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Gingerbread Reindeer Cookies

These little guys are almost too cute to eat—but they sure are adorable toppers for a white cake. If you can't bear to snack on them, we think Santa would be appreciative if you left him a few.

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Gingerbread Cheesecake with Lemon-Ginger Glaze

Gingerbread Cheesecake
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Gingerbread Cheesecake with Lemon-Ginger Glaze

If we could describe this dessert in one word, lively would be a good one. Bright, tangy, but also spicy, this cheesecake hits all the right notes and needs to be on your sideboard.

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Chocolate-Gingerbread-Toffee Cake

Chocolate-Gingerbread-Toffee Cake
Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell

Recipe: Chocolate-Gingerbread-Toffee Cake

Ginger whipped cream, silky ganache, and toffee bits combine into a delightful and impressive multi-layer cake that won't last long, no matter how full everyone is. As they say, there's always room for dessert.

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Gingerbread Snowflake Cookies

Silky Ganache
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Gingerbread Snowflake Cookies

Let it snow with these snowflakes. The edible ones are always the best and here, you have a choice between buttermilk frosting and royal icing. Take your pick.

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Gingerbread Cake Recipe with Buttermilk Frosting

Gingerbread Cake with Buttermilk Frosting
Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Gingerbread Cake Recipe with Buttermilk Frosting

Warm, spicy gingerbread meets tangy buttermilk to create a striking duo in both color and taste.

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Holiday Gingerbread Pudding

Holiday Gingerbread Pudding
Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell

Recipe: Holiday Gingerbread Pudding

Prepare to dazzle guests with this fragrant, warm, spicy bread pudding. The best part? Your slow cooker is going to do all the work.

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Iced Gingerbread Biscotti

Iced Gingerbread Biscotti
Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Mindi Shapiro and Amanda Widis

Recipe: Iced Gingerbread Biscotti

The icing may be simple, but that's what allows the spices of the Gingerbread Biscotti to shine through.

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Salted Caramel Gingerbread Poke Cake with Pumpkin Cream Cheese Frosting

Salted Caramel Gingerbread Poke Cake with Pumpkin Cream Cheese Frosting
Credit: Daniel Agee

Recipe: Salted Caramel Gingerbread Poke Cake with Pumpkin Cream Cheese Frosting

If this isn't the ultimate holiday cake, we don't know what is. The classic poke cake gets an upgrade to gingerbread spice, which is generously doused with caramel before being slathered in frosting. Decadence beckons and we're happily walking over.

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Gingerbread Latte Cake with Vanilla Whipped Cream Frosting

Gingerbread Latte Cake with Vanilla Whipped Cream Frosting
Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Gingerbread Latte Cake with Vanilla Whipped Cream Frosting

Is your favorite part of the holidays the festive coffee drinks? If so, this cake delivers and you'll feel like you've got a big latte with whipped cream in hand.

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Spicy Molasses Gingerbread People

Spicy Molasses Gingerbread People
Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Spicy Molasses Gingerbread People

We took traditional gingerbread and gave it a little something extra: molasses and orange and lemon zest. There's a new gingerbread man in town.

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Classic Gingerbread Cookies

Classic Gingerbread Cookies image
Credit: Sheri Giblin; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey; Prop Styling: Amy Stone

Recipe: Classic Gingerbread Cookies

If you're making your gingerbread house from scratch this year, here's the recipe that'll make it happen. If you plan on eating it, too, make sure you use bold molasses for extra flavor.

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    1 of 22 Gingerbread Biscotti
    2 of 22 Gingerbread Martini
    3 of 22 Chocolate Gingerbread Wreath Cookies
    4 of 22 Chocolate-Gingerbread Christmas Tree Cookies
    5 of 22 Gingerbread Brownies with Eggnog Frosting
    6 of 22 Gingerbread Muffins
    7 of 22 Gingerbread Cake with Stout Buttercream
    8 of 22 Gingerbread Pancakes
    9 of 22 Old-Fashioned Gingerbread Recipe
    10 of 22 Gingerbread Cake Roll with Eggnog Cream
    11 of 22 Upside Down Pear-and-Gingerbread Cake
    12 of 22 Gingerbread Reindeer Cookies
    13 of 22 Gingerbread Cheesecake with Lemon-Ginger Glaze
    14 of 22 Chocolate-Gingerbread-Toffee Cake
    15 of 22 Gingerbread Snowflake Cookies
    16 of 22 Gingerbread Cake Recipe with Buttermilk Frosting
    17 of 22 Holiday Gingerbread Pudding
    18 of 22 Iced Gingerbread Biscotti
    19 of 22 Salted Caramel Gingerbread Poke Cake with Pumpkin Cream Cheese Frosting
    20 of 22 Gingerbread Latte Cake with Vanilla Whipped Cream Frosting
    21 of 22 Spicy Molasses Gingerbread People
    22 of 22 Classic Gingerbread Cookies

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    22 Gingerbread Recipes to Keep You Feeling Festive
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