Chewy Ginger Cookies with Cream Cheese Buttercream

This is the final recipe in my holiday gift guide. I saved the best for last. These are soft and chewy and everything you ever wanted in a cookie. Also, how freaking cute is this “cookies for Santa” plate and “Santa’s Milk” little carafe? Literally all props in this photo can be found at Britannia Kitchen & Home.

Chewy Ginger Cookies with Cream Cheese Buttercream

Prep time: 40 minutes
Cook time: 8 minutes
Total time: 48 minutes
Yield: approximately 18-20 cookie sandwiches

INGREDIENTS

For the Chewy Ginger Cookies

• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

• 1 ¼ cups white sugar, divided

• ¾ cup butter, softened

• ¼ cup molasses

• 2 teaspoons ground ginger

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• ½ teaspoon ground cloves

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• 1 egg

• 1 tablespoon orange juice
  
  

For the Cream Cheese Buttercream

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened

• ½ cup cream cheese

• 2 cups icing sugar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  
  

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350F. In a large bowl sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt, and set aside.

Using an electric stand mixer with the paddle attachment (or simply using a large bowl and wooden spoon), cream together the softened butter and 1 cup of white sugar “for the cookies” until light and fluffy. Add in the egg, orange juice and molasses and mix until well combined. Add in the sifted flour mixture, ½ a cup at a time. At this point you should be able to roll the dough out into 1 inch balls. If your dough is too sticky, try adding a little more flour or you could also wet your hands before rolling to prevent the dough from sticking to your fingers. Place the remaining ¼ cup of sugar in a small bowl and roll each ball in the sugar. Place the cookies 3 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet and flatten slightly with a fork.

Bake in the oven for ~8 minutes. While the cookies are in the oven, beat the unsalted butter “for the icing” until light and fluffy. I used the paddle attachment on my electric stand mixer and beat it for 5 minutes on medium speed but you could also use an electric hand mixer. Add in the cream cheese and vanilla, and gradually incorporate the icing sugar (beating on low speed) until well combined. Once the icing sugar is incorporated increase the speed to high and beat for an additional 2 minutes.

Allow the cookies to cool completely before attempting to ice them. Smear or pipe approximately 1½ tablespoons of the buttercream icing to the bottom of a cookie and place another cookie on top, creating a cookie sandwich. Store in an airtight container. I prefer to keep these in the fridge to keep the icing from getting too soft.