Soft Cream Cheese Frosted Gingerbread Cookies

These easy and soft cream cheese frosted gingerbread cookies are like biting into a cloud, and they’re fluffy and soft with the perfect ginger spice to get you excited for the Holidays. If you like these, try these frosted gingerbread cookie bars and gingerbread crinkle cookies too!

Jump to:

• Why you’ll love this recipe
• Recipe Ingredients
• Kitchen Equipment
• Step-by-Step Instructions
• Storage and Leftovers 
• Expert Tips
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Related Recipes
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

If you like cream cheese frosted holiday desserts, try these frosted pumpkin bars, this carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, and pumpkin bread with cream cheese frosting too!

These festive spiced gingerbread cookies always get a spot on my cookie trays during the holidays! I make them every year because everyone loves how soft and chewy they are and how the spiced flavor puts them in the Christmas spirit! Every year I have so much fun switching up the sprinkles to whatever holiday ones I find that year!

Need more Christmas cookie ideas? Try these chocolate dipped shortbread peppermint cookies, chocolate peppermint kiss cookies, the best chewy chocolate chip cookie recipe, shortbread cookies recipe, thumbprint cookies with jam, chewy oatmeal raisin cookies, and crinkly chocolate cookies too!

Why you’ll love this recipe

• FESTIVE: There are a few flavors and scents that will remind you of Christmas, and gingerbread is definitely one of them! Get ready for your home to smell of delicious gingerbread while these cookies bake. These cookies are also extra festive with fun red and green sprinkles and will have everyone reaching for one!
• EASY: These are a simple cookie recipe with steps that are easy to follow! If you want to make it even easier, feel free to use store-bought cream cheese frosting, or don’t frost them at all….but they are so delicious with homemade cream cheese frosting…and you only need 3 ingredients to make it!
• TEXTURE: The texture of these iced cookies is soft and fluffy and will impress everyone at your cookie exchange!

Recipe Ingredients

• FLOUR: All-purpose flour is used in this recipe and helps give structure and fluffiness to these cookies. 
• BAKING SODA: Baking soda helps give the cookies their soft and fluffy texture. 
• BAKING POWDER: The baking powder helps with the puffiness of these cookies and gives them a slightly cakey texture. 
• SPICES: Ground cinnamon and ginger are added to spice the cookies and make them smell like Christmas!
• SALT: A pinch of salt helps enhance the overall flavor of the cookies. 
• BUTTER: Softened butter will be used in the cookie batter and the cream cheese frosting for a melt-in-your-mouth texture and a lot of flavor.
• SUGAR: Brown sugar is used in the cookies for a deeper flavor profile, and powdered/confectioner sugar is used in the frosting to make it sweet and velvety smooth. 
• MOLASSES: Molasses is a key contributor to the gingerbread flavor and making these cookies chewy. 
• VANILLA EXTRACT: Vanilla extract for a hint of vanilla flavor that pairs well with the gingerbread flavors of these cookies. 
• EGG: An egg is used in the cookie batter, which contributes to the chewiness of the cookies and helps with the overall structure of the cookie. 
• CREAM CHEESE: Cream cheese is used in the frosting because who doesn’t love cream cheese frosting, right? Its tanginess also complements the gingerbread flavor very well.

See the recipe card below for the ingredient measurements. 

Kitchen Equipment

• MIXING BOWLS: You will need two mixing bowls for the wet and dry mixture for the cookies and another bowl for making the cream cheese icing. 
• ELECTRIC HAND MIXER: For mixing the cookie batter and frosting. 
• BAKING SHEETS: For baking the cookies. 
• MEASURING SPOONS AND CUPS: For measuring the ingredients.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare: Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare two baking sheets with parchment paper. 
2. Dry Mixture: In a bowl, combine and mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, and salt. Set aside.
3. Wet Mixture: In a separate bowl, combine the butter and brown sugar and mix until combined. Add the molasses, egg, and vanilla extract and mix it again. Slowly add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and mix until fully incorporated. 
4. Bake: Roll the cookie batter into balls the size of a tablespoon and a half, place them 1 inch apart on the cookie sheets and bake them for 11-13 minutes. Tap the cookie sheet on the counter after removing them from the oven. 
5. Frosting: In a bowl, combine the cream cheese and butter and mix on high until combined. Add the powdered sugar and mix on low until smooth. Frost the cookies once they’re completely cooled by using the back of a spoon and top with sprinkles (optional).

Storage and Leftovers 

Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge for up to 5 days. They can also be stored in the freezer for future use for up to 3 months. 

Expert Tips

• Tap the baking sheet. Once you remove the cookies from the oven, tap the baking sheet on the counter to give them some nice cracks and flatten them. If you want them to be super fluffy, you can skip this tip. 
• Wait to ice the cookies. The cookies should be completely at room temperature before icing so the frosting doesn’t melt off of them right away.
• Skip the homemade icing. In a rush? You don’t have to make your own frosting (even though homemade cream cheese frosting is a game changer for these cookies). You can eat these cookies without icing, and they’ll still be super delicious, or you can opt for store-bought if you want to keep this recipe extra easy and quick.
• Have fun with sprinkles! Make these gingerbread cookies as festive as you can with fun holiday sprinkles that are red and green.

Frequently Asked Questions

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