Dessert

Best Ginger Cookies with Orange Clove Icing Recipe

ByAiden Wells November 21, 2025November 21, 2025

Introduction

These Best Ginger Cookies with Orange Clove Icing offer a delightful blend of warm spices and zesty citrus. Soft yet slightly crisp, they’re perfect for sharing during the holidays or any cozy afternoon. The sweet orange clove icing adds a beautiful finishing touch that’s both fragrant and flavorful.

A white plate with a gold and grey pattern holds seven round, dome-shaped cookies covered in a smooth, shiny white glaze. One cookie is cut in half and placed on top, revealing a soft, dense, light brown inside with a slightly crumbly texture. The cookies are arranged in a close, informal pile on the plate, which sits on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup organic fair trade sugar
2 Tbsp backstrap molasses
1 pastured egg
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 Tbsp ginger paste
1 3/4 cups Einkorn ancient grain flour (can substitute regular all purpose flour)
2 tsp aluminum free baking powder
1/8 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

2 cups organic powdered sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
3 Tbsp milk
2 drops Sweet Orange essential oil or orange zest to taste
Few pinches ground cloves

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 2: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, sugar, and molasses until smooth.
Step 3: Add the egg, vanilla extract, and ginger paste to the butter mixture and whisk until fully combined.
Step 4: In a separate bowl, stir together the Einkorn flour, baking powder, sea salt, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
Step 5: Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until the dough is well incorporated.
Step 6: Using clean hands, roll the dough into balls and place them on parchment-lined cookie sheets, spacing about 12 balls per sheet.
Step 7: Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the cookie surfaces are firm and just starting to crack.
Step 8: Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack before applying the icing.
Step 9: To make the icing, combine powdered sugar, vanilla extract, milk, orange essential oil or zest, and ground cloves in a bowl. Mix until smooth.
Step 10: Spread or drizzle the icing over the cooled cookies. Let the icing set before serving.

Tips & Variations

For softer cookies, reduce baking time slightly or add a bit more molasses for moisture.
You can substitute regular all-purpose flour if Einkorn is unavailable, though texture may be slightly different.
If you prefer less icing, halve the quantities or simply drizzle instead of fully covering the cookies.
Add a pinch of ground black pepper to the dough for a subtle spicy kick.

Storage

Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week. If iced, allow the icing to fully harden before stacking to prevent sticking. You can also freeze un-iced cookies for up to three months; thaw before icing and serving. Reheat iced cookies gently in a low oven if you prefer warm treats.