Festive Gingerbread Christmas Sticks (Printable Version)
Warm gingerbread cookie sticks—easy to make, fun to decorate, perfect for holiday gatherings or edible gifts.
# The Ingredients You'll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 teaspoons ground ginger
03 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
04 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
05 - 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
06 - 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
07 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
08 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
09 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
10 - 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
11 - 1/4 cup molasses
12 - 1 large egg
13 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
→ For Decoration (optional)
14 - 1 cup powdered sugar
15 - 2 to 3 teaspoons milk or lemon juice
16 - Festive sprinkles, colored sugars, or melted white chocolate
# Step-by-Step Instructions:
01 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, baking soda, and salt.
02 - In a large bowl, beat unsalted butter and packed brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
03 - Add molasses, egg, and vanilla extract to the creamed butter mixture and mix until fully combined.
04 - Gradually mix in the dry ingredient blend, stirring just until a soft dough develops.
05 - Divide dough into two equal portions, shape each into a rectangle, and wrap with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
07 - On a lightly floured surface, roll each dough rectangle to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into sticks approximately 1/2 by 4 inches.
08 - Place sticks 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets.
09 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges are just set but the centers remain soft. Cool on sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
10 - For decoration, mix powdered sugar with enough milk or lemon juice to create a thick glaze. Drizzle over cooled sticks and finish with sprinkles or melted white chocolate as desired.
# Additional Tips::
01 -
- Uses classic pantry spices and common baking ingredients
- Fun for kids to help roll, cut, and decorate
- Soft centers with crisp edges for the perfect bite
- Ready for decorating with icing or chocolate but just as delicious plain
02 -
- Perfect for make-ahead holiday baking
- Freezes well undecorated for lastminute gifts
- Great for dunking in coffee or cocoa
- Ginger is the standout spice here and it always reminds me of the first time I snuck a taste of gingerbread dough as a kid and somehow that hint of heat made cookies more magical in winter. The ginger gives these sticks their festive punch and my family happily debates every year whether to add a little extra.
03 -
- Chill the dough so it rolls easily and your edges stay sharp
- Measure spices and molasses carefully since they can easily overpower
- Do not overbake if you love a chew in the middle a few minutes make all the difference
- Give yourself space(cookies spread and need air to bake evenly)
- Decorate only once cookies are truly cool or the glaze will melt