Best Gingerbread Icing Recipes

GINGERBREAD COOKIES WITH ROYAL ICING

Steps:

• In large bowl, beat butter, brown sugar, molasses and cold water with electric mixer on medium speed (or with wooden spoon) until well mixed. Mixture may look curdled. With wooden spoon, stir in remaining cookie ingredients until soft dough forms. Wrap with plastic wrap; refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours.
• Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray cookie sheets with cooking spray. On floured surface, roll dough 1/8 inch thick.
• Cut dough with floured 3 1/2- by 2 1/2-inch gingerbread boy or girl cookie cutter or other cookie cutter. Place on cookie sheets 2 inches apart. Reroll dough, and cut additional cookies.
• Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until no indentation remains when touched. Immediately remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack. Cool cookie sheets 10 minutes between batches. Cool cookies completely, about 30 minutes.
• In medium bowl, beat meringue powder and cold water with electric mixer on medium speed until peaks form. Gradually beat in powdered sugar until soft peaks form, about 1 minute. Spoon icing into decorating bag fitted with medium round tip, and pipe over cookies. Sprinkle with sugar. Let stand about 5 minutes or until icing is set.

FRESH GINGERBREAD WITH LEMON ICING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325°F.
• In a saucepan, melt the butter along with the sugar, syrup, molasses, ginger, and cinnamon. Off the heat, add the milk, eggs, and baking soda in its water.
• Measure the flour out into a bowl and pour in the liquid ingredients, beating until very well mixed (it will be a very liquid batter). Pour it into the pan and bake for 3/4 - 1 hour until risen and firm. Be careful not to overcook it, as it is nicer a little stickier, and anyway it will carry on cooking as it cools.
• And when it is cool, get on with the icing. Whisk the lemon juice into the confectioners' sugar first, then gradually add the water. You want a good, thick icing, so go cautiously and be prepared not to add all the water. Spread over the cooled gingerbread with a palette knife, and leave to set before cutting.

ROYAL ICING FOR GINGERBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Beat sugar, meringue powder, and a scant 1/4 cup water in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on low speed until smooth, about 7 minutes. If icing is too thick, add more water, 1 teaspoon at a time; if too thin, beat icing for 2 to 3 minutes more, or add more sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. Use immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature overnight; stir before using.

GINGERBREAD HOUSE ICING

Steps:

• In a large clean bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar with electric mixer at medium speed.
• Add powdered sugar in small amounts, mixing well on high speed after each addition.
• Beat on high speed 4-5 minutes or until mixture thickens.
• Refrigerate, covered, until ready to use.
• You may need to stir icing to soften before use.

GINGERBREAD CUPCAKES WITH ORANGE ICING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin pan with paper liners.
• Place the rum and raisins in a small pan, cover, and heat until the rum boils. Turn off the heat and set aside. Place the butter and molasses in another small pan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Pour the mixture into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cool for 5 minutes, then mix in the sour cream and orange zest.
• Meanwhile, sift the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt together into a small bowl. Mix with your hand until combined. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the flour mixture to the molasses mixture and mix only until smooth. Drain the raisins and add them and the crystallized ginger to the mixture with a spatula.
• Divide the batter among the muffin pan (1 rounded standard ice cream scoop per cup is the right amount). Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from the pan.
• For the frosting, mix the cream cheese, butter, orange zest and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until just combined. Add the sugar and mix until smooth.
• When the cupcakes are cool, frost them generously and garnish with a slice of crystallized ginger.

GINGERBREAD TREES WITH LEMON ICING

Steps:

• Make cookies: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and salt. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter and granulated sugar on medium-high until creamy, 3 minutes. Add egg and beat to combine. Add molasses and beat to combine, scraping down bowl as needed. With mixer on low, gradually add flour mixture and beat until combined. Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate until firm, 1 hour (or up to 3 days).
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. With a sharp knife or cookie cutter, cut dough into small 2-inch-wide triangles. Arrange triangles, 1 inch apart, on two parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until cookies are firm and golden at edges, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool completely on sheets on wire racks.
• Make icing: In a small bowl, combine lemon juice and confectioners' sugar and whisk until smooth. Drizzle icing over cooled cookies and sprinkle with sanding sugar, if desired.

ROYAL ICING FOR GINGERBREAD HOUSE

Steps:

• With an electric mixer on low speed, beat ingredients until fluffy, 7 to 8 minutes. Use immediately, or transfer to an airtight container (royal icing hardens quickly when exposed to air) and refrigerate up to 1 week. Stir well with a flexible spatula before using.
• Thin icing as needed by stirring in additional water, one teaspoon at a time. For piping designs, add just enough water that icing is no longer stiff; for floodwork, add water until icing is the consistency of honey.

GINGERBREAD ICING

Steps:

• Beat egg whites in a bowl using an electric mixer on high speed until foamy. Gradually mix confectioners' sugar, ginger, cinnamon, and vanilla extract into egg whites until icing is thickened.

GINGERBREAD HOUSE DOUGH & ICING

Steps:

• Bring sugar, molasses, ginger and cinnamon to a boil in a large saucepan. Add baking soda (it will boil up). Place chopped butter in the bottom of a large mixing bowl and pour the molasses mixture on top. Mix to combine and stir in beaten egg. Gradually add flour. Knead until thoroughly combined, adding additional flour to obtain a stiff dough as needed. Divide in two. Form into rectangle-shaped mounds and cover with plastic wrap and chill.
• Roll dough into 1/4 inch thick rectangles according to the size you need for the templates. Cut out shapes and transfer to lined or prepared or non-stick baking sheets. Bake in a moderate oven 325°F for approximately 20 minutes or until the dough turns a uniform dark golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool completely before removing from sheet pan.
• Royal Icing: Place all ingredients in clean mixing bowl. Using whisk attachment combine ingredients on low speed. Increase speed to high and whip until mixture is stiff, approximately 5 minutes. Remove from mixer. (Hand held mixer will take few minute longer).
• Remove 3/4 of the mixture to another bowl and cover bowl with a damp towel until you are ready to use icing, or icing will dry and a crust will form. Replace mixer on machine, and on low speed, add additional powdered sugar for "cement" used to hold walls up.
• Note: If worried about raw egg whites, use meringue powder available at decorating supply and specialty food stores. Replace each egg white with 1 tablespoon meringue powder and 2 tablespoons warm water. Proceed with recipe.
• Icing tip: Caramelize about 1/2-1 cup of sugar use as "superglue" to construct the house. Dries fast and hard. Use the royal icing to cover up the seams and to stick on the candy.

GINGERBREAD SNOWFLAKES WITH ICING THAT HARDENS

Steps:

• Set oven to 350 degrees F.
• Prepare ungreased baking/cookie sheet/s.
• In a large mixing bowl cream the butter with sugar until fluffy (about 3 minutes).
• Beat in molasses and water.
• In another bowl combine flour with ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice and salt; add to the creamed mixture and mix until well combined.
• Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 1 to 1-1/2 hours or until easy to handle.
• Lightly flour a work surface.
• Roll out the chilled dough to 1/4-inch thickness.
• Using star-shaped cookie cutters dipped in flour (about 2-1/2 inches wide) cut out shapes.
• Place the dough stars onto prepared cookie sheet about 2-inches apart.
• Bake for about 10-12 minutes or until edges are firm.
• Remove to wire racks and cool.
• For the icing; in a bowl combine all icing ingredients until smooth and well combined.
• Transfer to a heavy small plastic bag, then cut a small hole in a corner of the bag.
• Pipe the icing around the edges of the cookies or as desired (the icing will harden upon standing).

CHOCOLATE GINGERBREAD BROWNIE BARS WITH FUDGY ICING

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease a 20 x 30cm cake tin, and line the base and sides with baking parchment. Melt the chocolate, cocoa, sugar and butter together in a saucepan over a very low heat. Once the chocolate and butter have melted and sugar dissolved, remove from the heat and stir in the ginger and almonds, followed by the egg yolks, one at a time.
• Beat the egg whites to stiff peaks. Using a metal spoon, stir a couple of spoonfuls of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture to loosen before very gently folding in the rest.
• Gently scrape into the tin. Bake for 30-35 mins until the top looks set and the centre doesn't wobble too much. Sit the cake tin on a wire rack and leave to cool completely.
• Once cool, make the icing. Put the butter, chocolate, cocoa, icing sugar, ground ginger and 4 tbsp water in a pan. Gently heat, stirring, until you have a smooth icing. Pour over the cake (still in its tin), leave for 1-2 mins to cool slightly, then scatter over the ginger. Cool completely (you can also store in the fridge if you bring out to room temperature about 20 mins before serving) before cutting into bars.

SKILLET GINGERBREAD CAKE WITH EGGNOG ROYAL ICING

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch round pan or skillet with butter and lightly coat with flour.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, crystallized ginger, baking soda, salt, ground ginger, cinnamon and cloves. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, molasses and milk. Whisk in the egg and orange zest.
• Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and whisk until just combined and there are no more lumps. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 25 to 35 minutes, or until the edges look dark and the middle feels firm to the touch. Set the pan on a rack to cool.
• For the eggnog royal icing: Measure out half of the powdered sugar and place in the bowl of a stand mixer or mixing bowl, then add the egg white, rum, bourbon, vanilla, nutmeg, cloves, salt, cream of tartar and heavy cream. Mix at low speed with a paddle attachment or with a hand mixer, adding the remaining powdered sugar. Increase speed to medium and beat until thick and smooth. It should have the texture of a loose buttercream, thick and malleable.
• Pour the icing over the warm cake and spread evenly with a small spatula. Slice and serve.

KAHLUA GINGERBREAD PEOPLE WITH KAHLUA ICING

Steps:

• Cream shortening, butter, and sugar together.
• Beat in egg until fluffy.
• Stir in molasses and Kahlua.
• Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture and blend well.
• Cover and chill for at least 2 hours but preferably overnight.
• Roll out to 3/8 inch, on a well floured surface, a portion at a time.
• Keep remaining dough chilled.
• Cut with cookie cutter and place on lightly greased cookie sheet.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes.
• Let stand for 1 minute to firm.
• Decorate with Kahlua Icing.
• For icing combine all ingredients and tint with food coloring if desired.
• Pipe icing as desired.
• to make icing spreadable add 1 or 2 tsp more Kahlua.

GINGERBREAD COOKIES WITH ROYAL ICING

Steps:

• For the cookies: In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, ginger, cloves and cinnamon until well mixed. Set aside.
• Using a stand mixer on low speed, blend the shortening and sugar. Add the molasses and eggs, then gradually stir in the flour mixture until combined. The dough will be sticky. Divide into quarters, shape into flattened disks, wrap in plastic and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days.
• Position an oven rack in the middle and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat liner.
• Lightly dust each disk with flour and place it between sheets of wax paper. Roll it 1/4-inch thick for chewy cookies or 1/8-inch thick for crisp cookies. Lift off and reserve the top layer of wax paper. Dip cookie cutters in flour and cut designs in the dough, leaving excess dough in place. Put wax paper back on top, slide a baking sheet under the lower sheet of wax paper and transfer the dough and baking sheet to the freezer for about 15 minutes, or until the dough is firm but not frozen.
• Transfer 1 sheet of dough, with the cold baking sheet still under it, to a work surface. Remove the top sheet of wax paper, lift up the dough and push the cutout cookies from behind to free them. Quickly place them on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake small cookies for about 6 minutes, medium for 8 and large for 10 to 12, or until edges are light brown (baking time will vary, depending on thickness of dough). Let sit for about 2 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely. If not iced immediately, they may be stored for 4 weeks in airtight containers at room temperature or wrapped in plastic and frozen.
• For the royal icing: Using a stand mixer on high speed, beat the confectioners' sugar, meringue powder, water and orange extract for about 5 minutes, or until stiff peaks form. Unless using immediately, place plastic wrap directly on the icing. To create different colors, transfer some icing to small bowls and add gel or paste food coloring.

BEST ROYAL ICING FOR GINGERBREAD HOUSE

Steps:

• Beat egg white briefly and gradually add sugar, tartar and flavorings. Continue to beat until mixture reaches a smooth, creamy texture. If consistency is too runny, add more powdered sugar in 1/4 cup segments. I like to double this recipe for initial house construction. Keep bowl covered with damp cloth or plastic wrap to delay hardening while using icing, or spoon icing into a pastry bag with star-shaped tip to apply icing more carefully to the house. You can even make icicles and patterns with the icing! Overall construction and decorating may require 2-4 batches.

GINGERBREAD PANCAKES WITH ICING

Steps:

• For the pancakes: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, ginger, baking soda, salt, nutmeg and cloves. In another medium bowl, whisk together the milk, melted butter, molasses, brown sugar, orange zest and egg. Slowly add the milk mixture to the flour mixture and stir until just combined. It is ok if the batter is a little lumpy. Do not overmix or you will have tough pancakes. (Let the batter sit for at least 5 minutes and up to 30 minutes for fluffier pancakes.)
• For the icing: In a small bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar and milk. Set aside.
• Grease a griddle or nonstick skillet with butter and heat to medium high. Pour 1/4 to 1/3 cup batter per pancake onto the griddle. When small bubbles begin to form on the tops of the pancakes, after 2 to 3 minutes, flip the pancakes and cook on the other side for 2 to 3 minutes. Serve the pancakes immediately with the icing and garnish with sprinkles and whipped cream if desired.

GINGERBREAD COOKIES WITH ROYAL ICING

Steps:

• For Gingerbread Cookies:
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large mixing bowl, blend all ingredients together and chill for up to 1 hour. Roll dough out on floured board about 1/8-inch thick. Cut desired shapes with cookie cutters and place onto sheet pan. Bake for 8 minutes in preheated oven.
• For Royal Icing:
• With a hand mixer, beat the egg whites with the lemon juice or extract until frothy. Add the sifted powdered sugar and beat on low speed until combined, smooth, and shiny. Turn to high and beat approximately 5 minutes till stiff and glossy. Add food coloring, if desired, and transfer to a pasty bag to pipe onto cookies.

GINGERBREAD CAKE WITH CARAMEL BISCUIT ICING

Steps:

• Measure the milk and treacle into a saucepan (grease the measuring spoon with a little oil first and the treacle will easily slide off). Bring to a gentle simmer and stir until combined, then set aside to cool. Meanwhile, grease 3 x 20cm loose-bottomed cake tins with a little oil and line the bases with baking parchment (if you don't have enough cake tins, see tip). If the tins are any shallower than 4cm, line the sides with a deep collar too. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
• Measure the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, sugar and spices into a large bowl, then add ½ tsp fine salt. Mix the dry ingredients together with a large whisk; if there are any large lumps of sugar, squeeze these through your fingers until you have an even, sandy-textured mixture.
• In a jug, whisk the oil, buttermilk, eggs, rum and vanilla. Add the milk and treacle mixture, and mix well. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry, and whisk into a smooth batter. Divide between the tins and bake for 25-30 mins until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cakes comes out clean. You may have to swap the cakes over to cook evenly, but don't do this until they've had at least 20 mins cooking. Cool the cakes in their tins for 10 mins, then transfer to a wire rack, peel off the parchment and leave to cool completely. Once cooled, you can wrap the sponges in cling film and store in a cool place for 4 days, or freeze for up to 2 months - the texture and flavour will be all the better for it.
• To make the icing, put the butter and half the icing sugar in a large bowl. Mash together roughly with a spatula, then whizz with an electric hand whisk until smooth. Add the remaining icing sugar, the cream cheese, vanilla bean extract and biscuit spread. Mix again until smooth and evenly mixed. Transfer half the icing to another bowl and set aside. Use the remaining icing to stack the cakes and cover the entire outside in a thin layer - don't worry about making the cake look too neat at this stage, as any crumbs trapped in the icing will be covered in the final coat. Chill the cake for 30 mins and the remaining icing for 20 mins (remove the icing from the fridge 10 mins before the cake to soften a little).
• When the icing on the cake is firm, remove it from the fridge and use the remaining icing to cover the cake. Smooth the sides using a palette knife, but leave peaks and dips on top for your snow scene. Top the cake generously with desiccated coconut, a dusting of sieved icing sugar and some edible glitter, if you like, then decorate the top and sides with gingerbread shapes (see tip). If you're not eating the cake within a few hours, store it in the fridge, but bring back to room temperature before serving. Wlll keep for 2 days.

RAISIN GINGERBREAD LOAF WITH GINGER ICING

Steps:

• Preheat oven 350, butter and flour 9 in sq baking pan.
• To make gingerbread, in a large bowl, combine the brown sugar, molasses, boiling water and butter.
• Blend by hand or electric mixer set on low.
• While the mixture is still hot, add the baking soda, egg and raisins.
• In a small bowl.
• re sift the flour with the cinnamon, ginger and cloves.
• Stir into the molasses mixture.
• Add the candied ginger and mix well without incorporating too many bubbles.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 35-40 minutes.
• Cool completely.
• To make icing, in a small bowl, beat together the butter and cream cheese until smooth.
• Add then the sugar and beat until smooth.
• Mix in the vanilla and candied ginger.
• Chill briefly before frosting the gingerbread.

GINGERBREAD CUPCAKES WITH LEMON ICING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 189C/gas 4 Line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cases, or grease it. Put 100g butter, the molasses, sugar and golden syrup in a saucepan, heat gently, stiring until the butter has melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the milk, set aside to cool.
• Sieve together the flour, spices and bicarbonate of soda in a bowl Stir in the stem ginger.
• Once the molasses mixture is cool, beat in the egg, then pour onto the dry ingredients. Fold in and stir with a spatula until smooth. Spoon into the cases so they are half full. Bake for about 15 minutes. Cool on a rack.
• To make the icing, beat the remaining 40 g butter in a large bowl or mixer, until light. Sieve in the icing sugar and beat to incorporate (it will not become smooth at this stage, but don't worry) Add the lemon juice gradually, beating in just enough to bring the mixture together smoothly. It should still be firm enough to hold its shape., Tansfer the icing to a piping bag fitted with a star-shaped nozzle and pipe swirls on top. Cut the crystallised ginger pieces into smaller bits and top the cakes with them.