Honey-Spiced Gingerbread Cookies with Orange Glaze

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-26 · Updated 2026-04-26

Soft and fragrant gingerbread cookies sweetened with honey and finished with a bright orange glaze for a festive treat. This American-inspired Christmas recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, layers all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground ginger into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 120 calories and feeds 24, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 3 tbsp fresh orange juice

The bakeware we’d bake this in → Best Bakeware Sets in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a medium bowl, whisk together 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 2 tsp ground ginger, 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, and 1/2 tsp ground cloves. Set aside.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, beat 3/4 cup softened unsalted butter with 1/2 cup honey and 1/2 cup packed brown sugar until creamy and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
3. Step 3: Add 1 large egg, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 1/2 tsp salt to the butter mixture and beat until combined.
4. Step 4: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined into a dough.
5. Step 5: Divide dough in half, wrap each in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
6. Step 6: Preheat oven to 350°F. Roll out chilled dough on a floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness and cut into desired shapes.
7. Step 7: Place cookies on parchment-lined baking sheets about 1 inch apart. Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are set but centers remain soft.
8. Step 8: Remove cookies and cool on wire racks.
9. Step 9: For the glaze, whisk 1 cup powdered sugar with 3 tbsp fresh orange juice until smooth. Drizzle or spread over cooled cookies and allow to set before serving.