22 Gingerbread Recipes to Keep You Feeling Festive
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.
Gingerbread Biscotti
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.