If you are craving a festive treat that’s as adorable as it is delicious, the Mickey Mouse Gingerbread Cookies Recipe is just what you need. These charming, spiced gingerbread cookies capture the magic of the holidays with a touch of sweetness from rich molasses and a perfect blend of warming spices, all shaped into the iconic silhouette of Mickey Mouse. Whether you’re baking for a holiday party, a family gathering, or simply to enjoy with a cup of hot cocoa, this recipe promises joy in every bite and looks absolutely delightful dipped in velvety milk chocolate and sprinkled with festive holly and berries.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Getting started with the Mickey Mouse Gingerbread Cookies Recipe is a breeze because each ingredient plays a crucial role in making these cookies tender, flavorful, and perfectly shaped. The combination of warm spices and rich molasses gives the cookies that classic gingerbread taste, while the butter and brown sugar create a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Don’t forget the chocolate and festive sprinkles to add that extra magical touch!
- 10 Tablespoons unsalted sweet cream butter: Provides richness and tenderness to the cookies.
- 3/4 C light brown sugar: Adds sweetness and moistness with a hint of caramel.
- 2/3 C dark molasses: Gives the cookies their signature deep flavor and a beautiful dark color.
- 1 large egg: Binds the dough together and helps create structure.
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract: Enhances the overall flavor with a gentle sweetness.
- 3 1/2 C flour: The foundation that holds everything together.
- 1 tsp baking soda: Leavens the dough, lending lightness.
- 1/2 tsp salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the spices.
- 1 tbsp ground ginger: Brings the classic spice that defines gingerbread.
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon: Adds warmth and depth of flavor.
- 1/2 tsp allspice: Contributes a subtle mix of flavors like cloves and nutmeg.
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves: Provides a robust spiciness that’s essential for gingerbread.
- 2 8 oz bags of Ghirardelli milk chocolate melting wafers: Perfect for dipping and decorating the ears.
- 1 container of Wilton holly melody sprinkles: Adds festive color and charm to your cookies.
How to Make Mickey Mouse Gingerbread Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Workspace
Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and lining your cookie sheet with parchment paper. This simple prep ensures your cookies bake evenly and release easily without sticking.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar
In a standing mixer, cream the butter and light brown sugar on medium speed until smooth and creamy. This step is essential as it introduces air into the dough, making your cookies nice and tender.
Step 3: Add Wet Ingredients
Next, add the egg and pure vanilla extract, mixing until just combined. Then pour in the dark molasses and beat on medium-high speed to fully combine that rich, molasses flavor with the rest of your wet ingredients.
Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate large bowl, whisk together your flour, baking soda, salt, and all the aromatic spices—ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves. This ensures every bite is bursting with flavor.
Step 5: Mix Dry with Wet
Gradually add the flour mixture into your wet ingredients on low speed. Mixing slowly prevents overworking the dough, which could make the cookies tough, preserving their soft, chewy texture.
Step 6: Roll and Cut the Dough
Lightly flour a cutting board and roll out the dough to about an inch thick. Then, bring out your Mickey Mouse cookie cutter and press it firmly into the dough to create those classic Mickey shapes.
Step 7: Bake Your Cookies
Place the cut cookies on the parchment-lined sheet and bake them for 9 to 12 minutes, just enough for the edges to set but still be soft inside. This results in perfectly tender gingerbread goodness.
Step 8: Cool and Repeat
Once baked, transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat the cutting and baking process with the remaining dough until all your Mickey Mouse shapes are baked and ready for decorating.
Step 9: Dip in Chocolate and Decorate
Using a double boiler, melt the Ghirardelli milk chocolate wafers until smooth. Dip each cooled cookie about a quarter way in to coat Mickey’s ears. Gently shake off excess chocolate and place them on parchment paper. Then, using tweezers, add a couple of holly sprinkles and three red berry sprinkles to the top right corner, bringing festive joy to every bite!
How to Serve Mickey Mouse Gingerbread Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
Adding festive sprinkles like the holly melody really brings your Mickey Mouse Gingerbread Cookies Recipe to life. The red and green colors not only celebrate the holiday spirit but also add a delightful texture contrast against the smooth chocolate and spiced cookie.
Side Dishes
These cookies are an absolute treat alongside a warm cup of spiced cider, rich hot chocolate, or even a classic glass of cold milk. The warm spices in the cookie perfectly complement these cozy beverages, making them the ideal snack for chilly days.
Creative Ways to Present
Serve these cookies in festive tins or tied with a bright ribbon for thoughtful homemade gifts. For a party, arrange them on a platter with holiday greenery or place them alongside gingerbread houses for an extra special display that’s sure to wow your guests.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftover Mickey Mouse gingerbread cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. Keeping them sealed ensures they stay soft and fresh, retaining that perfect balance of chewiness and spice.
Freezing
You can freeze these gingerbread cookies for up to three months. Just wrap them individually in plastic wrap and place in a freezer-safe container. When you’re ready, thaw them at room temperature and decorate just as you would fresh cookies.
Reheating
If you want to enjoy your cookies warm, simply pop them in a microwave for about 10 seconds or warm gently in a preheated oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 3-5 minutes. Warmed gingerbread is wonderfully fragrant and even more comforting!
FAQs
Can I use a different type of molasses in the Mickey Mouse Gingerbread Cookies Recipe?
Dark molasses is preferred for its robust flavor, but you can use unsulfured or regular molasses if that’s what you have on hand. Just keep in mind the flavor may be slightly lighter.
Is it necessary to dip the cookies in chocolate?
Not at all! While the chocolate-dipped ears add a delicious and festive touch, the gingerbread cookies are absolutely wonderful on their own or decorated with icing instead.
How thick should I roll the dough for these cookies?
About one inch thick is ideal. This thickness keeps the cookies soft and chewy rather than hard and crispy, perfectly showcasing the classic gingerbread texture.
Can I make these cookies without a Mickey Mouse cutter?
Of course! If you don’t have a Mickey Mouse-shaped cutter, any round or festive holiday cookie cutter works great. The flavor will be just as delicious.
What’s the best way to melt the chocolate wafers for dipping?
Use a double boiler to gently melt the chocolate wafers, stirring frequently so the chocolate doesn’t scorch. If you don’t have one, a microwave at 20-second intervals stirred each time works well too.
Final Thoughts
There is something truly magical about the Mickey Mouse Gingerbread Cookies Recipe that brings a smile to any face and warmth to the heart. Whether you’re baking with kids, preparing for a festive gathering, or just craving a sweet treat, these cookies are sure to spread joy and delight. So grab your ingredients, your Mickey Mouse cutter, and dive into this fun and flavorful baking adventure. Happy baking!
Print
Mickey Mouse Gingerbread Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These festive Mickey Mouse Gingerbread Cookies bring together classic holiday spices and sweet molasses with a fun Disney twist. Perfectly soft and chewy, they’re dipped in creamy Ghirardelli milk chocolate and adorned with holly and berry sprinkles for an enchanting seasonal treat that’s sure to delight kids and adults alike.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 10 Tablespoons unsalted sweet cream butter
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar
- 2/3 cup dark molasses
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
Decoration
- 2 bags (8 oz each) Ghirardelli milk chocolate melting wafers
- 1 container Wilton Holly Melody sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it reaches the perfect temperature for baking the cookies evenly.
- Prepare Baking Sheet: Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set it aside to prevent the cookies from sticking and to make cleanup easier.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: Using a standing mixer on medium speed, beat the butter and light brown sugar until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy, which helps create a tender cookie texture.
- Add Egg and Vanilla: Add the egg and pure vanilla extract to the butter mixture and beat until fully combined, ensuring even distribution of flavors.
- Incorporate Molasses: Pour in the dark molasses and beat on medium-high speed until well combined, contributing rich flavor and moisture.
- Scrape Bowl: Scrape down the sides and bottom of the mixing bowl as needed to incorporate all ingredients evenly into the batter.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, allspice, and ground cloves until fully blended to evenly distribute the spices.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture on low speed, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking the dough.
- Prepare Dough Surface: Lightly flour a clean cutting board to prevent sticking, then place the dough onto the board for rolling.
- Roll Dough: Roll the dough out to approximately 1/4 inch thickness, ensuring uniformity for even baking.
- Cut Cookies: Using a Mickey Mouse head-shaped cookie cutter, cut the dough into shapes, transferring them to the lined baking sheet.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 9 to 12 minutes, until they are set but still soft in the center.
- Cool Cookies: Remove the cookies and let them cool completely on a wire rack to firm up and prevent breakage.
- Bake Remaining Dough: Continue cutting and baking the remaining dough, allowing all cookies to cool completely before decorating.
- Melt Chocolate: Using a double boiler, gently melt the Ghirardelli milk chocolate melting wafers until smooth and fluid for dipping.
- Dip Cookies: Dip the ears of each cooled cookie about one-quarter of the way into the melted chocolate to create a decorative coating.
- Shake Off Excess Chocolate: Lightly shake each dipped cookie to remove excess chocolate, ensuring a neat finish.
- Decorate Cookies: Place the cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet; using tweezers, carefully place two holly leaf sprinkles and three red berry sprinkles onto the top right corner of each cookie for festive detailing.
- Set Chocolate: Allow the chocolate to harden completely at room temperature before serving or storing, ensuring decorations stay in place.
Notes
- The dough should be rolled to approximately 1/4 inch thickness (not 1 inch as incorrectly stated) to ensure the cookies bake evenly and have a tender texture.
- Use a double boiler or a heat-safe bowl over simmering water to melt the chocolate gently and avoid burning.
- If you don’t have a Mickey Mouse cookie cutter, any round or themed cookie cutters will work for this recipe.
- Store decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- To keep cookies crisp, place a piece of parchment paper between layers when stacking.
