Gingerbread Cookies With Orange Icing
Nothing says "happy holidays" like the warm, spicy aroma of Lithuanian Christmas Cookies baking in the oven. These Gingerbread Cookies With Orange Icing are the ultimate holiday treats, filling your house with that unmistakable festive smell. With a touch of citrus and a drizzle of simple icing, they’re the perfect blend of tradition and cheer!
Equipment
- 2-3 Large Baking Sheets
- Parchment Paper
- Cookie Cutters
Ingredients
For The Gingerbread Cookies
- 310 g (2⅓ cup + 2 tbsp) all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
- 1½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- ¼ teaspoon cloves
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 130 g (⅓ cup + 2 tbsp) honey
- 50 g (¼ cup) dark brown sugar, packed
- 60 g (4 tbsp) butter
- zest of 1 orange
- 1 egg large
- 50 g (3¼ tbsp) sour cream
For Orange Icing
- 150 g (1¼ cups) powdered sugar
- 1-2 tablespoon orange juice
Instructions
- Mix the flour, salt, baking powder, cocoa powder, orange zest, and all the spices in a large mixing bowl.
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter, honey and brown sugar over medium heat. Allow it to bubble arround the edges for 1 minutes. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly, but not completely.
- Once cool enough, beat in the egg, whisking it vigorously into the mixture to prevent the egg from scrambling.
- Beat in the sour cream.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well. The cookie dough will seem sticky and wet, but this is fine.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Place the bowl in the fridge for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175° C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Divide the dough in two for easier management. Then roll each out into a large sheet, about ⅕ inch (0.5 cm) thick. Cut out the cookies, and arrange them onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving a little space in between them.
- Bake the cookies for 9 minutes. Then leave them to cool down on the baking sheets.
Make Orange Icing
- Mix the powdered sugar and orange juice in a small bowl. Add more or less orange juice to arrive at the right consistency for either piping or smearing. You may also choose to divide the icing and add food coloring to it.
- Leave the icing to set before serving.