Did you make a batch of gingerbread cookies and it turned out to be too much for you to eat? If that’s the case, you’re probably searching for ideas for how to use the leftovers.
You can use leftover gingerbread cookies to make pie crust, brownies, chocolate cake, milkshakes, or truffles.
Read on to learn how to make all these delicious treats using leftover cookies.
6 Great Ideas for What to Do With Leftover Gingerbread Cookies
Without delay, here are the ideas:
1 – Gingerbread Pudding
Your first option to avoid wasting your gingerbread cookies is to use them in gingerbread pudding.
The best thing about this idea is that it only requires a few simple ingredients.
Here they are:
- Leftover gingerbread cookies
- 3 cups of milk
- 6 eggs
- ½ a cup of sugar
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla
Once you have these ingredients on hand, you should follow the procedures below:
Start by scraping any icing off the gingerbread cookies and then break them into small pieces. Do this until you have enough to fill a 9-inch x 9-inch greased casserole dish. Make sure to place the pieces in even layers throughout the whole dish.
Next, whisk the vanilla, eggs, sugar, and milk in a bowl. When they’re mixed well, pour the dish’s contents over the gingerbread in the casserole dish. If you want to give your pudding an extra twist of flavor, try using eggnog instead of milk.
Let the ingredients settle in the dish for a few minutes. As you wait, preheat your oven to 350℉.
Finally, bake the pudding for 40 minutes, and enjoy!
2 – Gingerbread Cookie Truffles
Another option to consider is to make gingerbread cookie truffles. These delicious bites are easy to make, and you can have them ready in under 15 minutes.
All the ingredients you’ll need are likely to already be available in your kitchen.
They are:
- ½ a pack of cream cheese at room temperature
- ½ a cup of cocoa powder
- 1 cup of powdered leftover gingerbread cookies
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence
- ½ a cup of powdered sugar
Here’s how to use these ingredients to make some mouthwatering truffles:
- Put your leftover cookies in a food processor and blend them until they’re a crumbly powder.
- Remove the powdered cookies from the food processor and place them in a large bowl.
- Next, add the cream cheese to the bowl and whisk it with the cookie powder well.
- When the mixture is thoroughly whisked, knead it with your hands to create a smooth dough. This process will take two minutes at the most.
- Apply grease to your hands and start rolling pieces of the dough into smooth balls. Use 1 ½ tablespoons of dough to make each ball.
- Next, get two bowls and place the cocoa powder in one and the powdered sugar in the other.
- Roll half of the balls you made in the cocoa powder bowl and the other half in the powdered sugar bowl.
- Once you’re done, place the bowls on a plate with parchment paper underneath them.
- Place them in your freezer for 5 minutes.
- Your delicious truffles are ready to serve!
3 – Gingerbread Milkshake
If the first two ideas don’t tickle your fancy, this one might be more up your alley.
You can use your gingerbread cookie leftovers to make a refreshing milkshake.
To do so, take out your blender, and drop some milk, vanilla extract, gingerbread cookie crumbs, vanilla ice cream, molasses, and ground ginger in it.
Blend the mixture until it’s thoroughly combined. Next, pour it into a glass rimmed with some more gingerbread crumbs.
Finally, top your milkshake with cinnamon, whipped cream, and an extra helping of cookie crumbs.
4 – Gingerbread Pie Crust
Do you want to bake a pie but you don’t have a pie crust or the ingredients you need to make it?
If that’s the case, your leftover gingerbread cookies will be your savior. Simply remove any remaining icing or toppings on the cookies and blend the cookies in a food processor until they achieve a crumbly texture.
Now it’s time to add baking powder, eggs, and melted butter to the mix. Ensure that the ingredients are thoroughly combined, mold the mixture into your pan, and bake your crust in the oven.
5 – Gingerbread Brownies
Do you know what I love even more than gingerbread cookies? Brownies!
Guess what? This quick and easy recipe can transform the former into the latter.
The required ingredients include:
- ¾ cups of granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 egg yolk
- ¼ cups of unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- ½ a cup of crumbled leftover gingerbread cookies
- 1 teaspoon of ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoons of fine salt
- 10 tablespoons of unsalted butter
- ¾ cups of all-purpose flour
- ¼ cups of light brown sugar
- 4 ounces of chopped, semi-sweetened chocolate
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
That’s a lot of ingredients, I know. But the result is worth it for sure!
Here’s what to do:
- Preheat your oven to 350℉ and prep an 8-inch x 8-inch baking pan by lining it with parchment paper.
- Using a microwave-safe bowl, mix the butter and the chocolate. Microwave the mixture in 30-second intervals and make sure to stir well between each interval. Keep doing this until the mixture has a smooth texture and has melted fully.
- Next, add the granulated and light brown sugar to the mix and whisk them well. Let the mixture cool for a bit.
- Now it’s time to add the vanilla extract, eggs, and egg yolk to the mix and whisk them until they combine with the other ingredients.
- Get a rubber spatula and use it to stir the salt, cinnamon, ginger, cocoa powder, flour, and crumbled leftover cookies into the mix.
- Pour the mixture into your pan and bake for 30 minutes in your preheated oven.
- Take the brownies out of the oven and indulge in your tasty treat!
6 – Chocolate Gingerbread Cake
The final idea I recommend that you try when deciding what to do with your leftover gingerbread cookies is to make chocolate gingerbread cake.
You’ll need the following ingredients:
- 6 eggs
- 4 cups of flour
- 1 cup of vegetable oil
- ⅓ cups of cocoa powder
- 2 ½ cups of sugar
- 2 teaspoons of baking powder
- ⅓ cups of milk
- 2 cups of leftover crumbled gingerbread cookies
- 1 ½ cups of milk
Got all these ingredients at the ready? Here are the steps to go through:
- Start by preheating your oven to 350℉ and pouring the 1 ½ cups of milk over the crumbled gingerbread cookies.
- As you wait for the cookie crumbs to soak in the milk, beat the eggs and sugar until they form a froth.
- Next, mix the cocoa powder with the baking powder and flour and add them, as well as ⅓ cups of milk to the egg-sugar mix.
- Now it’s time to throw the milk-soaked cookie crumbs into the mix and whisk it thoroughly until fully combined with the rest of the ingredients.
- Get to greased pans, distribute the batter equally between them, and bake for around an hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do gingerbread cookies last after baking?
After you’ve baked them, your gingerbread cookies can last between four and six weeks. Their long shelf life is possible because they’re dry by nature.
This lack of moisture makes gingerbread cookies less prone to developing mold than other baked goods.
Why do gingerbread cookies get hard over time?
Your initially fluffy gingerbread cookies go hard over time because they lose their moisture easily.
The moisture evaporates quickly and the sugars in the cookies solidify, which causes the cookies to lose their soft texture.
How can I tell if my leftover gingerbread cookies have gone bad?
I’m all for not letting your cookies go to waste. However, you shouldn’t risk getting sick in the process.
The best way to tell if your cookies have gone bad is to inspect them closely. If you see any discolorations, your cookies are likely to have gone moldy. Alternatively, you can smell the cookies and check if they have a foul odor.
Final Thoughts
Are you wondering what to do with your leftover gingerbread cookies? I have plenty of ideas for you to try.
Whether it’s chocolate cake or truffles, you can make amazing treats with your cookies. I can’t wait for you to try them out!
Sarah is the founder of Baking Kneads, LLC, a blog sharing guides, tips, and recipes for those learning how to bake. Growing up as the daughter of a baker, she spent much of her childhood learning the basics in a local bakery.
Amy
Wednesday 14th of February 2024
I LOVE bread pudding so I opted for the Gingerbread pudding. I had some leftover Archway Iced Molasses cookies so I used those. I don't think they are quite as spicy as regular gingerbread cookies, but it was such a simple, easy recipe, that I had to make it. It came out very good, but because it lacked the spice, I think next time I might add some allspice and ginger, or perhaps just some good 'ol pumpkin pie spice. I think raisins might add a nice touch as well. I didn't remove the icing as there wasn't much on them and the cookies were pretty stale, so was too difficult and it made no difference that I could tell. I think it would be perfect topped with some vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Excited to also try the truffles.
Sarah Bridenstine
Thursday 15th of February 2024
That sounds so amazing! I love bread pudding as well. So, so delicious. A little extra spice would definitely make it better. I really hope you love the truffles as well!