Jump to RecipeA classic thumbprint cookie turned into a Christmas favorite, gingerbread!
This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on any links, sales made through such links will reward me with a small commission – at no extra cost to you. I only promote companies or products I personally use or believe in.
The Christmas season is definitely upon us! Do you know what that means? A lot of cookie recipes are going around! Today I wanted to share one of my favorites I have been making for years gingerbread thumbprint cookies!
Gingerbread is definitely an iconic Christmas flavor, obviously it is my favorite since I have Homemade Gingerbread Syrup every morning in my coffee!. When I was a kid we used to get our gingerbread men from this wonderful local place called Delicious Orchards in Colts Neck NJ! Their gingerbread was one of my absolute favorites, they had the perfect balance of chewy inside with a crunchy exterior and a delicious sweet and spicy flavor, they were the best I didn’t even need icing!
As grew up and learned how to bake, gingerbread cookies were definitely on my list for mastering. I make gingerbread every year but living in south Florida I need to find a cool dry day to make them, in south Florida that’s easier said than done. This recipe isn’t a typical gingerbread man recipe though. Since I noticed gingerbread men aren’t easy in the heat I came to find myself looking for a different kind of gingerbread cookie to add to my Christmas cookie list. That is where Gingerbread Thumbprint Cookies come in!
Is this your recipe?
No, I found White Chocolate Gingerbread Thumbprint Cookies years ago from another blogger Mom vs The Boys. Her recipe was so good I wanted to share it with you. I absolutely love her gingerbread thumbprint cookies for many reasons, ultimately being they are super easy. If you don’t have the time or maybe the patience to roll out a bunch of men then this right here is the best of both worlds. No rolling out and cutting dough, just roll dough balls, roll in sugar if desired, and bake!
Did you change anything from her recipe?
Yes, one very small change. I tried hers with the white chocolate in the centers but I didn’t love it, I felt the white chocolate was a bit out of place once it hardened in the middle of the cookie. I usually love white chocolate, but it just didn’t work for the texture of the cookie to me. I prefer to use Wilton’s cookie icing. Sometimes I will skip the icing and sugar on the outside for some of them but only if I want a more basic gingerbread cookie. For my Christmas cookie boxes/trays I make for the season I always add the icing.
Can gingerbread thumbprint cookies be decorated?
A little bit, I use the Wilton icing, and before it sets I add red and green sanding sugar to the tops of each cookie, this way they are festive looking!
Are the gingerbread thumbprint cookies gluten-free?
No, but you can certainly make them gluten-free by using bob red mills gluten-free all-purpose baking flour on a 1 to 1 ratio.
Can they be made vegan?
I haven’t tried it but I don’t see why not. I haven’t tried it but I don’t see why not. For the butter swap it out for earth balance butter or another vegan butter. Then replace the egg for a one flax egg, you would need 1 tbsp ground flax meal and 3 tbsp water, let sit in your fridge for 15 minutes to set up and thicken prior to using in the gingerbread thumbprints. I have scoured the internet for a vegan alternative to Wilton cookie icing and no luck but you can make your own from scratch with this vegan royal icing recipe, from Cooking On Caffeine.
Gingerbread Thumbprint Cookies
Equipment
- Stand Mixer
- Parchment paper
- Mini Cookie Scoop
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour or bobs red mill gluten-free baking flour
- 2 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter softened or vegan butter
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar I use half dark, half light
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1 egg or vegan egg, see notes
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar optional, for rolling dough balls in
- Wilton cookie icing optional, or make your own
Instructions
- Mix flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt in a large bowl.
- In a stand mixer, beat butter and brown sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add Molasses, egg and vanilla, beat well to mix.
- Gradually add dry mixture to wet ingredients, beating on low speed until well mixed.
- Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
- Preheat oven to 350 F. and line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Shape dough into mini balls with a cookie scoop, should be a little over a tsp size then roll in granulated sugar to lightly coat.
- Place balls 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until the edges of cookies just begin to brown.
- If you plan on adding icing to the center, immediately make an indent in the tops of the cookies, I like to use the handle of my wooden spoon for this.
- Once slightly cooled add icing and sanding sugar to decorate.
Notes
Comment below, what is your favorite holiday cookie?
Hey there! I’m the owner & author of Life Is Homemade (the blog), as well as Mad About Madeleines. I hope you enjoyed some of the delicious recipes, how-to’s, DIYs, & product reviews I blogged about. Thank you for your previous support I hope you stick around on my new journey with Mad About Madeleines.
What a great recipe! I can’t wait to try this.. it’s perfect bote size is great for the whole family!
Absolutely!
Thank you for including gluten free and dairy free alternative options in this gingerbread recipe!!! I always want to make gingerbread cookies every year and never do because I always forget to add molasses to the shopping list!! I hope I remember this year because this sounds delicious!
Lol yes, you don’t want to forget molasses, that adds to the delicious flavor!
I love gingerbread, and these look delicious. I’ll be trying these out next week when we make our holiday treats. Thanks for the awesome recipe!
My pleasure!
I love this recipe and the suggestions for making it vegan.
Yay!
You have so many cookie recipes and they all look delicious. Do you just bake all day, every day? 😊
Lol! I do have a lot of cookie recipes but I only bake all day a few days before Christmas!
I love Gingerbread!
Me too!
These cookies look amazing! Lisa’s daughter is the baker of the family and we will share with her in hopes that she makes us some!!
Thank you!
I used to love gingerbread as a kid! I never think about it anymore. Thanks for this awesome recipe!
My pleasure!
These cookies sound yummy and festive!
They sure are!
Having just made my first ever Gingerbread House (store bought haha) I can only imagine how good your home must smell after baking these. Thanks for the vegan inclusion as always <3
My pleasure!
These look like another delicious option to add to the list of Christmas cookies! Thank you!
My pleasure!
What a great twist on the thumbprints. I had bought the stuff to make the original ones but now I want to try these.
Thank you!
I love gingerbread, and these are so festive.
Thank you!
Looks so great!
Thank you!
This looks yummy! I’ve been loving gingerbread cookies with tea lately. Thanks for the vegan friendly version ideas, too!
My pleasure!
I’ve never made gingerbread – but I like it!
It is the best!
Love that twist on thumbprint cookies. Gingerbread has so many avatars! Definitely going to try this. Thank you, for sharing.
My pleasure!
Cute idea! These look amazing! I love gingerbread.
Thank you, me too!
These look awesome! I have made my share of thumbprint cookies… but never a gingerbread version!
Thank you so much! There are so many different kinds of thumbprints out there but I have to say gingerbread is definitely the favorite this time of year!
Gingerbread is my favorite flavor of the season, and adding a thumbprint option sounds wonderful!
It sure is!
I love gingerbread cookies so these are a wonderful twist on that! I could easily adapt this recipe to make it vegan.