1️⃣ Preheat Oven:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper. ✨

2️⃣ Mix Dry Ingredients:
In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt until well combined.

3️⃣ Cream Butter and Sugars:
In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.

4️⃣ Add Molasses and Egg:
Mix in the molasses, egg, and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.

5️⃣ Combine Mixtures:
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until a dough forms.

6️⃣ Chill the Dough:
Divide the dough into two portions, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to firm up. ❄️

7️⃣ Roll Out Dough:
On a floured surface, roll out one portion of dough to about 1/4 inch thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out desired shapes.

8️⃣ Bake Cookies:
Place the cut-out cookies on the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are firm but the centers are still soft.

9️⃣ Cool:
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.

? Decorate:
Once cooled, decorate with royal icing, powdered sugar, or sprinkles as desired. Enjoy your festive gingerbread cookies! ?️?