Gingerbread Coffee Cake Cookies: A Delicious Twist on a Classic
Are you looking for a festive and delicious treat to bake this holiday season? Look no further than gingerbread coffee cake cookies! These delightful cookies combine the warm spices and comforting flavors of gingerbread with the moist and crumbly texture of coffee cake. They are sure to become a new family favorite.
What makes these cookies so special?
- Unique Flavor Combination: The blend of gingerbread spices (cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves) with the buttery sweetness of coffee cake creates a truly unique and addictive flavor profile.
- Soft and Chewy Texture: These cookies are not overly crispy, but rather soft and chewy, giving them a delightful texture that melts in your mouth.
- Versatility: Gingerbread coffee cake cookies can be enjoyed on their own, paired with a cup of coffee or tea, or even used as a base for other festive desserts like cheesecakes or ice cream sundaes.
Tips for Baking Perfect Gingerbread Coffee Cake Cookies
- Use fresh spices: The quality of your spices will significantly impact the flavor of the cookies. Use fresh, high-quality spices for the best results.
- Don't overmix the dough: Overmixing can lead to tough cookies. Mix the dough just until combined.
- Chill the dough: Chilling the dough for at least 30 minutes will help prevent spreading and ensure the cookies hold their shape.
- Don't overbake: Overbaking will make the cookies dry and crumbly. Bake them until they are just set around the edges.
Serving Suggestions
- Glaze: A simple powdered sugar glaze will enhance the sweetness and add a beautiful touch to the cookies. You can also add a touch of cinnamon or ginger to the glaze for extra flavor.
- Cream cheese frosting: For a richer and more indulgent treat, top the cookies with a dollop of cream cheese frosting.
- Sprinkles: Add some festive sprinkles or chopped nuts for extra texture and visual appeal.
Gingerbread Coffee Cake Cookies Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Stir in nuts, if desired.
- Drop by rounded tablespoons onto prepared baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden brown.
- Let cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Enjoy these delicious and festive gingerbread coffee cake cookies!