The main ingredient in a traditional gingerbread cookie is molasses, which gives the cookies their characteristic dark color and rich flavor. Along with flour, sugar, and various spices such as ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, molasses creates a sweet and mildly spicy dough. Some recipes may also include baking soda to help the cookies rise, resulting in a soft texture. Gingerbread cookies are especially popular during holiday seasons and are often decorated with icing or shaped into festive forms like gingerbread men or houses, serving as both a treat and a decorative element during celebrations.