Gingerbread Recipe

Picking the perfect gingerbread recipe for your gingerbread creations is important. Different creations call for different recipes. For instance, if you are building a gingerbread house, then you would need a gingerbread recipe that was more structural than edible. On the other hand, if you are making gingerbread cookies, then you would want a recipe that was edible and not so much "structural." And if you are making gingerbread men, you might want one or the other depending on whether you plan to eat them or use them as ornaments.

Gingerbread is not only a holiday-time favorite, but always an adventure. That is why I have included two separate recipes here, because no matter what path you choose to follow, there should be something included in these instructions which will help you on your gingerbread recipe way.

Step 1: Recipes

There are commonly two different types of gingerbread on the market, those for eating and those for building. The two don't always go hand in hand, so it is important that you choose the appropriate recipe to suit your needs. I've eaten cookies from both recipes, and believe me when I say that the "structural" recipe is not quite edible, but makes a fine gingerbread house.

If you would like to make some structural gingerbread for houses and ornaments, I can recommend the following recipe:

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup molasses
2 eggs
4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

If you would like to make some nonstructural gingerbread for human consumption in the form of cookies, I highly recommend:

1/3 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1-1/2 cups of molasses
2/3 cup of chilled water
7 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cloves

Step 2: Sugar and Butter

For both recipes:

Thoroughly mix your brown sugar into the softened butter with your electric mixer. Continue mixing until it appears smooth and brown.

Step 3: Mix in the Wet

Next, use the electric mixer to mix in the wet ingredients.

For the structural gingerbread recipe these ingredients include:
2/3 cup molasses
2 eggs

For the edible gingerbread recipe these ingredients include:
1-1/2 cups of molasses
2/3 cup of chilled water

Step 4: Mix in the Dry

Now is time to mix in the flour, baking soda and spices.

Mix together all of the dry ingredients in a separate bowl and in small additions, mix them in with your wet ingredients until the dough is formed

For the structural recipe these include:
4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

For the edible recipe these include:
7 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cloves

Step 5: Pick Your Adventure

Choose this adventure if you are making gingerbread men.

Choose this adventure if you are making gingerbread cookies.

Choose this adventure if you are making a gingerbread house [ADVENTURE PENDING!].