Gingerbread Latte Cookies: A Cozy Holiday Treat with Warm Spices and Espresso

The holiday season invites the comforting aroma of baked goods, warm spices, and festive drinks. From gingerbread houses to classic lattes enjoyed on frosty mornings, winter treats offer a sense of nostalgia and coziness. Now imagine bringing together the best of both worlds—the spiced depth of gingerbread and the rich flavor of a holiday latte—into one irresistible dessert. Gingerbread Latte Cookies do exactly that.

These cookies are soft, warmly spiced, and gently infused with espresso powder for a subtle coffee twist. Finished with a silky spiced maple icing, they offer the perfect balance of sweetness, spice, and aromatic depth. Whether you’re preparing treats for a holiday party, baking with loved ones, or simply looking for a cookie that captures the feeling of winter in every bite, Gingerbread Latte Cookies are a must-try.

This recipe is inspired by all the flavors of your favorite seasonal latte—ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, molasses, and a hint of espresso—crafted into a cookie that feels both comforting and sophisticated. In this article, we’ll walk through every step of the recipe, offer useful baking tips, highlight variations, and answer common questions to ensure your cookies turn out perfectly each time.

What Makes These Cookies Special?

Gingerbread cookies are a holiday staple, but adding espresso and maple icing makes them entirely unique. These cookies offer:

1. A Perfect Texture

Soft-baked with a slight chewiness, they hold their shape but melt delicately in your mouth.

2. A Beautiful Flavor Balance

The espresso deepens the molasses and spice notes rather than overpowering them, giving the cookies a warm, latte-like richness.

3. Holiday Aroma

As soon as these cookies hit the oven, your kitchen will fill with the unmistakable scent of gingerbread.

4. A Stunning Finish

The spiced maple icing adds both flavor and visual appeal, making these cookies ideal for gifting or placing on holiday dessert trays.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Below is the complete ingredient list as you provided it, divided into two parts—the Gingerbread Latte Cookie Dough and the Spiced Maple Icing.

Gingerbread Latte Cookie Dough

• 1 cup salted butter, softened at room temperature
• 1/3 cup granulated white sugar
• 1/2 cup dark or light brown sugar
• 1 whole large egg
• 1/3 cup molasses (unsulphured)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste or pure vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons espresso powder
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour plus 2 tablespoons
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

Spiced Maple Icing

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 tablespoon salted butter, melted
• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
• 2–3 tablespoons milk

These ingredients combine to create a deeply flavorful cookie with a fragrant, velvety icing that enhances each bite.

Step-by-Step Preparation Method

Follow the detailed steps below for perfect Gingerbread Latte Cookies every time.

Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugars

In a large bowl or stand mixer, cream together the softened salted butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar.
Beat on medium speed for several minutes until the mixture becomes pale, fluffy, and airy.

Scrape down the sides frequently to ensure even mixing. This aeration step is essential for creating a soft cookie texture.

Step 2: Add Molasses, Egg, and Vanilla

Next, add molasses to the bowl and mix until fully incorporated.
Then add the egg and vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste.

Continue mixing until smooth. The mixture should be glossy and uniform.
Molasses contributes moisture and chewy texture while providing the signature gingerbread richness.

Step 3: Combine Dry Ingredients

In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the following:

• Flour
• Baking soda
• Baking powder
• Ground ginger
• Ground cinnamon
• Ground nutmeg
• Ground cloves
• Espresso powder

Whisking ensures the spices and leavening ingredients are evenly distributed. The espresso powder intensifies the flavors and creates the latte-inspired twist.

Step 4: Form the Dough

Slowly add the dry mixture to the wet mixture.
Mix on low speed until the dough forms, taking care not to overmix. Overmixing leads to tough cookies, so stop once the flour is just incorporated.

The dough will be soft, aromatic, and slightly sticky—this is exactly what you want.

Step 5: Scoop and Chill the Dough

Using a regular ice cream scoop or measuring out 4-tablespoon portions, scoop the dough into balls.

Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spacing them apart.
Chill the dough balls in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Chilling prevents excessive spreading during baking, helping the cookies stay thick and soft.

Step 6: Bake the Cookies

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Adjust the dough balls so they are 1½ inches apart on the baking sheet.

Bake for 9–10 minutes, or until the tops are set and lightly golden.
Remove from the oven and let them cool on the sheet for a couple of minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.

Step 7: Prepare the Spiced Maple Icing

While the cookies cool, make the icing:

In a medium bowl, whisk together:

• Powdered sugar
• Ground cinnamon
• Ground ginger

Add in:

• Melted salted butter
• Maple syrup
• Milk (2–3 tablespoons)

Whisk until smooth. Adjust consistency by adding more milk (to thin) or more powdered sugar (to thicken).

Step 8: Ice the Cookies

Once the cookies are fully cooled, drizzle icing over half or all of each cookie.
Let them sit for several minutes so the icing can set.

Enjoy warm or at room temperature—the flavors deepen as the cookies rest, making them even better the next day.

Tips for Perfect Gingerbread Latte Cookies

Here are some techniques to elevate your baking results:

1. Don’t Skip Chilling

Chilled dough prevents flat, thin cookies.
Chill longer (up to 24 hours) for even better flavor.

2. Use High-Quality Molasses

Unsulphured molasses provides a cleaner, sweeter flavor.

3. Espresso Powder Matters

Choose a fine, instant espresso powder for the best infusion of coffee flavor without clumps.

4. Avoid Overbaking

These cookies are meant to stay soft.
Take them out when the tops look slightly underdone—they will firm up as they cool.

5. Customize Your Icing

Add a splash of maple syrup or adjust the spice levels for your preferred flavor intensity.

Flavor Variations and Fun Add-In Ideas

You can easily personalize this recipe:

Mocha Gingerbread Cookies

Add 1 tablespoon cocoa powder to the dry mixture.

Extra-Spicy Version

Increase ginger and cinnamon slightly for a bolder bite.

Vanilla Latte Twist

Add more vanilla extract or use real vanilla bean caviar.

White Chocolate Drizzle

Drizzle melted white chocolate over the icing for both flavor and decoration.

Caramel Latte Cookies

Swap maple syrup for caramel syrup in the icing.

These options help make the cookies uniquely yours while preserving the core gingerbread-latte flavor profile.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes! The dough can be refrigerated for up to 24–48 hours.
You can also freeze the dough balls and bake straight from the freezer—just add 1–2 minutes of bake time.

2. Do I have to use espresso powder?

Espresso powder is key to the latte flavor, but you may reduce it or omit it if you prefer classic gingerbread.

3. Can I make the cookies smaller?

Absolutely—simply reduce the scoop size and bake for 7–8 minutes.

4. How do I store the cookies?

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4–5 days.
For longer storage, freeze them with parchment between layers.

5. Can I use instant coffee instead of espresso powder?

You can, but espresso powder provides a richer, more concentrated flavor.
If substituting, double the amount for similar intensity.

6. My icing is too runny—what do I do?

Add a tablespoon of powdered sugar at a time until it thickens.

7. My cookies spread too much—why?

Make sure the dough was chilled sufficiently and your butter was not overly warm when mixing.

Conclusion

Gingerbread Latte Cookies are everything you love about the holidays wrapped into one indulgent dessert. With warming spices, deep molasses flavor, aromatic espresso, and a beautifully spiced maple icing, they offer a creative twist on traditional gingerbread recipes while capturing the comfort of a festive latte.

Whether you’re sharing them with friends, gifting them in holiday tins, serving them at parties, or enjoying them alongside your actual morning latte, these cookies deliver cozy seasonal magic in every bite. Their texture, flavor balance, and beautiful icing finish make them a standout treat on any holiday cookie platter.

With simple ingredients, easy steps, and plenty of room for creativity, this recipe is a delightful addition to your holiday baking repertoire. Enjoy baking, sharing, and savoring every warm and spiced bite of these delicious seasonal cookies!

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