Hello December! I'm so glad you are here 🎄🎅 Typically, I can't wait to get out of Singapore as soon as December rolls around. But this year, I'm happy and content to be right where I am 😊

I can't tell you how long I've been wanting to make Gingerbread Cookies for Christmas. It has been one of things on my to-do list ever since I can remember. This year, I have finally managed to tick it off. And in the spirit of celebrating gender equality, I haven't just made gingerbread men but gingerbread women as well so I'm going to collectively term them 'gingerbread folk' 😄

My husband and I both love ginger as a spice. We like gingersnaps and tend to buy them whenever we spot them at grocery stores. And my love of cinnamon has already been extensively documented on the blog. So making gingerbread cookies was a no-brainer really. The key ingredient for these cookies is the dark molasses which is a byproduct of making sugar. This mildly sweet sticky syrup with a distinct flavor is what gives the gingerbread cookies their signature color, taste and texture. 

I' pretty sure I have mentioned this on my blog before but I'm reiterating just for the benefit of those who may not know. I generally don't prefer hard and crispy cookies. My kind of cookies are the soft and chewy variety. So that is exactly the kind of recipe I set out looking for. I found one and I felt like it would turn out the way I wanted it to. 

As I was baking these cookies, our home was filled with such amazing smells. Christmas was literally in the air! Even the girls who were busy playing in their room behind a closed door came out to the kitchen following the scent and asked "what smells so good in here?" 😄 The cookies were perfumed with a medley of warming spices, slightly crispy on the outside but chewy on the inside and had the right amount of sweetness (for us). I used a royal icing mix for decorating the cookies which made things easier. I'm not very good at piping or frosting in general but I was pleased with the outcome. 

Decorating these cookies is a really fun holiday activity you can do with the little ones. Our daughters really enjoyed decorating and then devouring their own cookies. From this recipe, I made only one batch of cookies. I've stashed the dough for the second batch in the freezer. The girls have made me solemnly swear that I'll let them decorate some more gingerbread cookies when I make the next batch 😊

We got our Christmas tree and decorations up a week ago, we've wrapped the presents, I've soaked the fruits for my annual Christmas cake and one batch of gingerbread cookies has been made and distributed. We are looking forward to catching up with friends and loved ones, cooking a lot of yummy food and having an enjoyable holiday season 😊

If you are looking for some holiday baking inspiration and haven't tried making these gingerbread cookies yet then give it a go. If you have children, get them involved and watch their little faces light up in glee!

Whether you are staying home this year or travelling overseas, I wish you and yours a joyous holiday season. 

Take care, be merry and stay safe 💗