Gingerbread cookies are the most popular cookies during the holiday Xmas season at my house. It is a shame that I never posted on my blog.

The thing is I always thought that there are so many recipes online why would you even make mine.

However, I decided to post all the holiday recipes because why not.

I really love making them with my kids. Well, I feel terribly sadden that they are growing so fast.

I just want to turn back the time and relive those days when they were little all over again.

Tap here for more tasty sweet recipes

Although, I am happy to see them grow into these amazing individuals. I am like every mother or a parent out there.

Anyhow, I really enjoyed making these this year and doing it with my youngest one.

He will turn 13 soon, so I am treasuring this time before he finds his mom boring. hahaha (sobbing).

So, one fact about me that might not know before. I have never eaten these cookies before I came to the United States.

We have so many cookies that are served over the holiday season, but gingerbread cookies were just not traditional at all.

Get more cookie recipes by clicking here

That being said, I love them. I like the taste, soft texture on the inside and crunchy on the outside.

You can use any cookie cutter to make different shapes and sizes. Of course, the most popular gingerbread cookie is Gingerbread Man.

In my opinion, I love to make them in all shapes and sizes so I go crazy… maybe a bit too crazy.

I don’t have many cookies on my blog. However, I set my mind to start making different ones now that I am more comfortable around making baked goodies other than bread.

Jokes on the side, I am really getting better at making sweets and I am so very proud of that.

Hey, if you get inspired by me and make these yummy Gingerbread Cookies, please tag me on Instagram.

@sandraseasycooking using hashtag #sandraseasycooking. I would love to see your creations. Thank you!!!

Yield: Makes about 3 dozen cookies, depending on the size

Gingerbread Cookies

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Chill Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Gingerbread cookies are the most popular cookies during the holiday Xmas season.

Print

Ingredients

• 6 oz, 170g unsalted butter (one and a half stick)
• 3⁄4 cup dark brown sugar
• 1 large egg, slightly mixed
• 1⁄2 cup original molasses
• 3 cups, 360g all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon, 5.2g ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1⁄4 teaspoon allspice

Instructions

1. In a large bowl or a stand-up mixer bowl, beat softened butter, brown sugar, and egg on medium speed until well blended
2. Whisk the baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices into measured all-purpose flour.
3. Gradually stir in dry ingredients until blended and smooth, but do not add more flour because the dough will firm up once it's chilled.
4. Divide the dough in half, this way it will be easier to roll out, and then pat each half into a thick rectangle. Wrap well, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
5. The dough may be sticky and hard to roll if not thoroughly chilled, so make sure it's cold before continuing.
6. Preheat oven to 375F (190C)
7. Prepare baking sheets by lining with parchment paper.
8. Place one wrapped dough portion on a lightly floured surface or use two plastic wraps, on the bottom and top, large enough to roll out dough. Roll dough to a scant 1/4-inch thick.
9. Cut out cookies with a desired cutter; gingerbread man, flour, snowflakes, etc. Space cookies 2-inches apart because they will spread a bit due to the addition of baking soda.
10. Bake 1 sheet at a time for 10 minutes
11. Remove the cookies from the oven and allow the cookies to cool for a bit until they are firm enough to move to a cookie rack. After cookies are cool you may decorate them with traditional royal icing any way you desire.

Notes

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Wildone Baking Sheet with Silicone Mat Set, Set of 4 (2 Sheets + 2 Mats), Wildone Stainless Steel Cookie Sheet Baking Pan with Silicone Mat, Size 16 x 12 x 1 inch, Non Toxic & Heavy Duty & Easy Clean
• 
  Juvale Parchment Paper Sheets - 200-Count Precut Unbleached Parchment Paper for Baking, Half Sheet Pans, Non-Stick Baking Sheet Paper, Brown, 12 x 16 Inches
• 
  Rolling Pins for Baking Combo, Pastry Mat Kit With Chopper/Scraper and Basting Brush, Large 19x23 Inch Reusable Silicone Non-Slip Non-Stick Mat With Fondant/ Dough Measurements/Dough Roller Baking Set

I do not think that there is anything better in this world than freshly baked bread, especially my Easy Homemade French Bread.

Well, my dutch oven for beginners and no-knead bread recipes are amazing, as well.

Anyhow, after many trials and fails, I finally got a winning recipe. I take pride in my bread recipes, so I tested this bread many times. This recipe is more of a “store-bought” copy-cat recipe rather than a true French artisan crunchy baguette.

Tap Here for more bread recipes

With that being said, it is still very delicious bread that I know you will love.

Anyhow, you guys seem to love my easy bread recipes and that makes me so happy. Trust me, you do not have to be a rocket scientist to bake a loaf of bread.

Yes, we all have to measure it in the beginning, but later you will just know what is what.

I must say, without bragging that I probably could make bread with my eyes closed. Well, that’s because I have been baking bread for a very long time.

Not that I am old as a bible, but I was 12 going toward 13 years old when I made my first bread.

I am almost 40 years old, so you see it has been a while since I made my first bread with the messy kitchen and flour all over the floor.

It was a rather unforgettable experience, and as you would typically expect to see on the I Love Lucy show.

With that being said, I have grown a bit and you can say got some experience making bread.

You can make this bread dough with a stand mixer using hook attachment however, you may use a bowl and a wooden spoon as well as your trusty hands to knead it.

I must admit my kids and husband are just like me. We love bread so much, but ever since we went low carb I avoid making it.

The only reason I would bake bread these days is to bring to my neighbors or friends.

However, sometimes I just dearly crave it. I use it my treat. It is nostalgia so I make a couple that we usually finish eating in one day. I know! We have a problem.

If you like this recipe then you might also like these:

No-knead Homemade Bread

No-Knead Homemade Whole Wheat Bread

Dutch Oven Bread for Beginners

Irish Soda Bread

Low Carb Keto Friendly Bread

If you make my amazingly Easy Homemade French Bread, please tag me on Instagram. @sandraseasycooking using hashtag #sandraseasycoooking.

Thank you so much in advance. I cannot wait to see your creations.

Just to add, as some found it quite unusual that I add oil to my dough. I like the dough much better with a drizzle of oil, however, traditional long baguette or French Bread does not contain any oil or fat whatsoever.

My mother-in-law only uses 4 ingredients to make bread; yeast, flour, salt, and water. Your bread will come out just as good.

Yield: Makes 2 to 3 Loaves

Easy Homemade French Bread

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Rise Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes

Easy Homemade French Bread

Print

Ingredients

• 1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
• 2 cups warm water (110° to 115°), 500ml (more if needed)
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 tablespoons oil, for greasing if you're using reg. baking pan
• 3 teaspoons salt, approx. 15g
• 6 cups all-purpose flour + for dusting

Egg wash is optional

• 1 egg white
• 1 teaspoon cold water
• You may also dust it with extra flour

Instructions

1. Measure, then combine flour and salt. Stir.
2. Add yeast and sugar with a splash of warm water to your stand mixer bowl. Mix it to combine then let the yeast activate. I do this even if I am using instant yeast and before adding the flour mixture.
3. Add flour to the stand mixer bowl, little by little, using a stand mixer with a hook attachment. Then add oil which optional. Traditional Frech Bread does not contain any oil or fat.
4. Add more warm water as needed. Add the water slowly, 1/2-1 cup at the time until you reach the thickness; NOTE: It all depends on what type of flour you have, how old it is, the air & humidity, etc. So if I say 2 cups of warm water, it might be less, so please add water slowly until you reach soft and sticky texture, but not looking like pancake batter.
5. Keep increasing speed on the stand mixer. Mix until the dough starts pulling away from the sides of the bowl. Drizzle a bit of oil, cover and allow it to rise. You may transfer it to a different bowl.
6. Let it rest and rise for an hour to up to 2 hours in total. I advise you to keep your down in microwave or (turned off) oven. This will help the dough to rise better.
7. You can make two or three loaves, depends on the size. If you make 2 then cut the dough in half. Dust your working surface with flour, then using a rolling pin stretch dough in a thinner rectangular shape. You do not need to press it too hard.
8. As you can see on my pictures, roll the dough, then shape it. You may tuck ends if you wish.
9. If you do not have a French Loaf baking pan, then grease your baking pan and put the dough in or line up a pan with parchment pepper or use a silicone mat.
10. Allow dough to proof in the baking pan for the next 20 to 25 minutes. Be patient because this is an important step. You may brush proofed loaves with egg white + water, egg wash or just dust with more flour like I did. It is great either way. You may even add some herbs and seeds if you like.
11. Slash the dough with a blade or a very sharp knife to allow it to expand during baking. The purpose is primarily to control the direction in which the bread will expand during “oven spring.”
12. Meantime, Preheat oven to 400F (200C). If your oven is steam oven add water into a little dish that comes with the oven. I will link the below in the notes, an article that I found informative regarding steam while baking bread. Great info so please check it out before baking.
13. Bake for about 30-35 minutes, or until the crust turns golden brown. Sometimes I like it more deep brown and crunchy and sometimes I like the light golden color of my bread. This depends on your preference.
14. Allow it to COOL DOWN at least for at least 20 minutes before slicing the bread. This is really important as well. I love hot bread but if you open it too soon while still piping hot the bread could possibly become dense and sticky. Just wait! I like to place my bread on the cookie rack then covering with a cotton kitchen towel.

Notes

You may check out how I make bread without a stand mixer. HERE

Check out this ARTICLE about steam and bread

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Taylor Stainless Steel Analog Kitchen Scale, 11 Lb. Capacity
• 
  SAINT GERMAIN Premium Hand Crafted Bread Lame with 6 Blades Included - Best Dough Scoring Tool with Authentic Leather Protective Cover
• 
  Oven Safe, Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Baking Rack & Cooling Rack, 10 x 15 inches Fits Jelly Roll Pan
• 
  Rolling Pins for Baking Combo, Pastry Mat Kit With Chopper/Scraper and Basting Brush, Large 19x23 Inch Reusable Silicone Non-Slip Non-Stick Mat With Fondant/ Dough Measurements/Dough Roller Baking Set
• 
  Amagabeli Nonstick Perforated Baguette Pan 15" x 13" for French Bread Baking 4 Wave Loaves Loaf Bake Mold Toast Cooking Bakers Molding 4 Gutter Oven Toaster Pan Cloche Waves Silver Steel Tray Italian
• 
  KitchenAid 5 Qt. Artisan Series Stand Mixer Contential Silver RRK150CU (Renewed)

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of HolidayBaking at Publix. All opinions are entirely my own.

French Toast Casserole is most definitely a staple food to bake during the joyous holiday season at my house.

We use so many amazingly appetizing toppings, and truly love them all. This is such a versatile and satisfying breakfast or brunch dish, which I adore the most.

To be completely clear, we arealways looking forward to a Thanksgiving or Christmas family brunch all yearlong. It might sound a bit strange, but we talk about it often during ourSunday family meals.

As much as we agree and strenuously disagree about foolish things, food brings us together. The saying could not be truer, food does unite people in the most delicious way.

We create beautiful, sweet memories during holidays, especially over a tasty and warm dinner.

We all know that the holidays can be the busiest and stressful time of the year, but it doesn’t have to be.

For example, the exclusive Publix Holiday Baking promotion makes it so very easy to bake all of my personal favorites during the holiday season.

Tap here for more tasty breakfast and brunch recipes

Don’t forget to check your local Publix between November 9 and November 22 for savings on a variety of products featured in the Holiday Baking promotion!

Much like in my house, you can actually make baking around the festive holidays a fun family event.

Holiday Baking promotion! Much like in my house, you can actually make baking around the festive holidays a fun family event. Thanks to the Publix Holiday Baking event, I can get everything I need… ON SALE

I can always count on Publix,especially during the holidays. The quality of ingredients is constantly onpoint.

That being said, I picked up Nestlé^® Coffee-mate^® Creamer to serve with the morning coffee. Also, typical groceries such as eggs, milk, bread, Pyure^® Organic Stevia, and Blackberry Patch Syrup to make my delicious French Toast Casserole.

Anna, my lovely daughter, and I prepped this casserole the night before for the easiest brunch ever.

My husband made coffee while the casserole was baking. Daniel, my youngest, set up the table, which was enormously helpful, of course.

The deliciously warm aroma from the kitchen wrapped our heart and soul with joy. We could not wait to dig in and share this yummy meal.

We all heartily wished my oldest boy, Aleks, and his girlfriend was home from college to enjoy our weekend tradition. That is mainly why I am looking forward to Thanksgiving because my ducklings are all home and with me.

Some of the deals I scored at Publix during the event are:

• $4.49 Blackberry Patch Syrup (8–12-oz your choice)
• $2 off any 1 Pyure Organic Stevia (any size)
• $1 off any 2 Nestlé Coffee-mate Creamer (16-oz) (refrigerated) or Nestlé natural bliss creamer (16-oz) (refrigerated) (mix or match)

If you make this tasty and unbelievably easy French Toast Casserole, please tag me on Instagram. @sandraseasycooking.

Yield: Serves 8

French Toast Casserole

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Additional Chill Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes

An easy and tasty way to enjoy stress-free holidays.

Print

Ingredients

• 1 loaf French or other crusty bread 14-16 ounces, day or three-day-old bread
• 8 large eggs
• 240 ml (8oz) heavy whipped cream
• 240 ml (8oz) whole milk
• 65g (1/2 cup) Pyure Organic Stevia= 1 cup of sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Dash salt
• 1 teaspoon unsalted butter

Cinnamon Apples

• 2 lbs Apples (Honeycrisp), peel and core
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup Pyure Organic Stevia= 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Topping options

• Blackberry Patch Syrup
• Fresh Blackberries or any other fruit
• Powdered sugar
• Maple syrup

Instructions

1. Slice bread into half lengthwise slices, if necessary, or slice French bread into slices, 1-inch each.
2. Using a larger baking pan with deeper sides, butter well with on the bottom and the sides.
3. Mix the eggs, heavy cream, sugar, pinch of salt, cinnamon.
4. Dip each slice of the toast into the French toast mixture, then arrange slices in a generously buttered 9 by 13-inch flat baking dish in 2 rows, overlapping the slices. You may use two smaller pans as well.
5. Pour the rest of the mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered pretty evenly with the creamy mixture. Cover with foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours to Overnight.
6. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
7. Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes at 350F. After 40 minutes, add cinnamon apple over the casserole and bake uncovered for additional 20 minutes.
8. Drizzle French Toast Casserole with Blackberry Patch Syrup, garnish with some fresh fruit such as blackberries, and dust with a generous amount of powdered sugar, if desired.

HOW TO MAKE CINNAMON APPLES:

1. Peel apples, core, and dice. It doesn't have to be small chunks.
2. Add sugar and cinnamon and cook on low medium heat for 10-12 minutes or until the apples are your desired tenderness. You do not want mushy apple sauce so just make them until they are tender but still hold their shape.
3. Take off the heat and set aside until ready to be used.

Notes

You may use any bread that you wish to use. The best one is French toast or pre-sliced cinnamon bread
for example.

I used cinnamon gourmet toast for this recipe, however, any a day or three days old bread would
work perfectly. It just tastes so much better when the bread is a bit stale.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Pyrex 4 Qt. Oblong Baking Dish with Cover (4.8 Quart Outside Measurement)
• 
  Le Regalo HW1243 3-Piece Vintage Baking Dish Set, Oven, Dishwasher, Freezer Safe, 14x8.5x2.5, Off-White