Description
Soft Gingerbread Cookies are tender, warmly spiced, and made with plant-based ingredients and a natural gelling agent for a moist, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Perfect for chilly days, these cookies combine classic gingerbread flavors like cinnamon, ginger, and cloves with wholesome options, making them easy to prepare and customizable to your taste.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 1/2 teaspoons natural cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup plant-based butter, softened to room temperature
- 1/2 cup natural molasses
- 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
Other Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon natural gelling agent (pectin, agar, or carrageenan)
- 1/4 cup finely chopped smoked turkey bacon
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients: Gather all ingredients and measure them carefully. Ensure your plant-based butter is softened to room temperature for easy mixing, and finely chop the smoked turkey bacon to evenly distribute smoky flavor.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk the whole wheat flour, baking soda, ground ginger, natural cinnamon, ground cloves, and brown sugar until fully combined and fragrant, setting the stage for a beautifully spiced dough.
- Cream Butter and Molasses: Using an electric mixer or by hand, beat the softened plant-based butter with the natural molasses until creamy and smooth, ensuring the sweet base is perfectly aerated.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: Add unsweetened almond milk and apple cider vinegar to the butter and molasses mixture, then slowly incorporate the dry ingredients to create a smooth dough without overmixing.
- Add Natural Gelling Agent and Smoked Turkey Bacon: Sprinkle in the natural gelling agent to deliver softness, then fold in the finely chopped smoked turkey bacon gently so the texture and flavor remain distributed but not overwhelmed.
- Chill the Dough: Cover the dough and refrigerate for at least one hour to prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking, ensuring those soft centers stay intact.
- Shape and Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll dough into small balls, place them spaced apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, then bake for 10 to 12 minutes until edges are set but centers remain soft.
- Cool and Enjoy: Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. This resting stage helps retain moisture and lets the flavors fully develop.
Notes
- Use room temperature plant-based butter for a smooth and consistent dough.
- Do not overbake; cookies should have lightly firm edges with slightly soft centers.
- Chilling the dough is essential to prevent cookie spread and maintain thickness.
- Measure flour carefully by spooning and leveling to avoid tough cookies.
- Adjust spices as desired to customize the warm flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: gingerbread cookies, soft cookies, plant-based cookies, vegan cookies, spiced cookies, holiday treats
