Description
Festive gingerbread crinkle cookie sandwiches with vanilla bean frosting celebrate winter’s warm spices and sweet memories. Rich molasses cookies embrace creamy filling, offering a delightful holiday treat you’ll savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2.25 cups (532 ml) all-purpose flour
- 0.5 cup + 1 tbsp (127 g) cold, unsalted butter
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tsp ground ginger
- 0.67 cup (133 g) firmly packed brown sugar
- 0.5 cup (170 g) unsulphured molasses
- 4 oz (113 g) cream cheese
- 2 cups (240 g) powdered sugar
- 0.5 tsp ground cloves
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp baking soda
- 2 tbsps milk
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
- Granulated sugar (for rolling)
- Powdered sugar (for rolling)
Instructions
- Dry Ingredient Preparation: Blend flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, salt, baking soda, and ground cloves in a mixing bowl until spices and sugar are evenly distributed.
- Butter Integration: Cut cold butter into dry mixture using fingertips or pastry cutter until the texture resembles coarse, pebble-like sand.
- Dough Formation: Mix molasses and milk into the ingredients at low speed, creating a cohesive dough with consistent moisture.
- Dough Chilling: Form dough into a compact disk, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least one hour to intensify flavors and firm the mixture.
- Baking Preparation: Line baking sheets with parchment paper and preheat oven to 350°F for optimal baking conditions.
- Cookie Shaping and Coating: Scoop chilled dough into small spheres, roll first in granulated sugar, then completely coat with powdered sugar.
- Baking Process: Arrange sugar-coated cookie balls on prepared sheets with sufficient spacing, bake for 10-12 minutes until edges crisp and centers set.
- Cooling and Stabilization: Allow cookies to rest on baking sheet for two minutes, then transfer to wire rack for complete cooling.
- Frosting Creation: Whip cream cheese and butter until silky, gradually blend in powdered sugar and vanilla bean paste to create smooth, creamy filling.
- Sandwich Assembly: Pipe or spread vanilla bean frosting on cooled cookie’s surface, gently press matching cookie on top to complete the sandwich.
- Serving and Storage: Enjoy immediately or preserve in airtight container to maintain freshness and delectable quality of gingerbread crinkle cookie sandwiches.
Notes
- Chill Dough Effectively: Refrigerate the dough for at least one hour to intensify spice flavors and prevent spreading during baking, ensuring dense and rich cookies.
- Sugar Coating Technique: Roll cookies generously in granulated sugar first, then completely coat with powdered sugar to create the signature crinkle effect and beautiful snow-like appearance.
- Precise Baking Window: Watch cookies carefully between 10-12 minutes, removing when edges are slightly crisp but centers remain soft to guarantee a tender, chewy texture.
- Frosting Consistency Matters: Whip cream cheese and butter until ultra-smooth before adding powdered sugar, ensuring a silky, spreadable filling that complements the spiced cookie perfectly.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 22
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg