GINGERBREAD COOKIE BITES

Gingerbread Cookie Bites are truly the easiest gingerbread cookies you’ll ever bake! These chewy little bites come together quickly and are just the right size for any holiday party or last-minute dessert craving!

My family looks forward to gingerbread every Christmas, but honestly, as a busy mom, the whole process can feel a little overwhelming. So this year, I switched things up and made these Gingerbread Bites instead—and wow, they’re a total win! I’ve already whipped up three batches, and Christmas is still a couple of weeks away. Just a heads up: these little treats vanish quickly!

Easy Gingerbread Cookie Bites recipe

This gingerbread cookie recipe is the easiest one out there! These chewy, bite-sized cookies come together fast and are great for holiday parties or gift bags. Plus, one batch makes over 100 cookies — perfect for sharing with your loved ones this season.

Holiday Gingerbread Cookies Ingredients

-Flour: You’ll want 3 cups of all-purpose flour to create the perfect cookie base.

-Leavening agents: 1 teaspoon of baking powder plus ¾ teaspoon of baking soda will give these cookies just the right puff as they bake.

-Salt: A pinch of ¼ teaspoon salt helps to bring out all those warm flavors.

-Spices: For that classic gingerbread flavor, grab 1 tablespoon of ground ginger, 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon of ground cloves.

-Shortening: 4 tablespoons of shortening add just enough fat to give these bites a tender texture.

-Butter: Half a cup (one stick) of unsalted butter amps up the richness and flavor.

-Dark brown sugar: 1 cup adds the perfect amount of sweetness and chewiness, with a rich molasses flavor.

-Egg: One large egg keeps the dough together nicely.

-Molasses: Half a cup brings that unmistakable, deep gingerbread flavor we all love.

-Vanilla: Two teaspoons enhance all the warm, spicy notes in the dough.

-Sprinkles: A quarter cup of colorful, holiday-themed nonpareil sprinkles adds a fun festive finish to each cookie bite.

How to Make Bite-Sized Gingerbread Cookies

Prepare the dough

First, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground ginger, cinnamon, and cloves in a small bowl until everything is mixed evenly.

Next, in a large bowl or your stand mixer’s bowl, beat the butter, shortening, dark brown sugar, and egg together on medium speed until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

Add the molasses and vanilla extract and continue beating until everything combines perfectly.

Slowly stir in the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until you get a smooth dough without any lumps.

Chill the dough

Press the dough evenly into an 8×8-inch pan lined with parchment paper. It should look flat and uniform across the surface.

Sprinkle the dough generously with your holiday-colored nonpareil sprinkles, then gently press them into the dough with your hands so they stick well. Be sure to cover every inch!

Pop the pan into the fridge for at least 2 hours, or up to 8 hours if you want to prepare ahead.

Bake and cool

Heat your oven to 375°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper to keep the cookies from sticking.

Take the dough, still on its parchment, out of the pan and place it onto a cutting board.

Using a ruler to help, slice the dough into ½-inch squares. You’ll end up with about 10 or 11 rows across, making roughly 100 small cookie bites total.

Place the cut dough pieces on the baking sheets, spacing them about an inch apart. You should fit around 30 to 35 pieces per tray comfortably.

Bake each sheet for 7 minutes. When the time’s up, let the cookies sit on the hot pans for another 2 minutes to firm up, then move them to a wire rack to cool completely.

What temperature do you bake gingerbread cookies at?

I bake these Gingerbread Cookie Bites at 375°F for 7 minutes. The result is a cookie that’s soft and chewy on the inside with just the right crisp around the edges. Perfect bite every time!

What gives gingerbread that classic taste?

That iconic gingerbread flavor comes from a blend of ingredients. Molasses is the star here — it’s a thick, dark syrup with just the right mix of sweet and spicy notes. Alongside molasses, the warming spices like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, and especially ginger add that familiar festive kick. Every recipe varies a bit, so don’t hesitate to try a few until you find your perfect blend!