If you’re anything like me, you’ve waited all year for a taste — or two or three — of gingerbread. Warm and spicy, the combination of molasses and holiday spice makes any sweet even sweeter. These seven gingerbread recipes, from cookies to waffles to whoopie pies, are proof.

What better way to start a gingerbread round than with a classic gingerbread cake. But you know me: We can’t go classic without a little twist. This Gingerbread Cake with Butter Rum Toffee Sauce (above) from Boulder Locavore fits the bill perfectly. A traditional cake served with an untraditional, but oh-so-right sauce. Perfection.

I’m not sure what I love more, this Gingerbread Syrup, or how Shelly of Vegetarian Ventures brilliantly packages the syrup as part of an easy DIY gift. If someone gave me this box for the holidays, I’d be swooning.

This easy, afterschool gingerbread house tutorial by Aimee of Simple Bites might be one of my favorite holiday series ever. One of the best family food bloggers around, Aimee shares how to make a gingerbread house in 5 simple steps, after school, with your kids. Yes, all of those things. She makes it happen, even with three kids of her own, and knows that you can, too. So lovely and so worth it.

Want all of the festive gingerbread flavor but without all of the work of baking? These soft and fluffy Gingerbread Pancakes from Averie Cooks are for you. Averie serves them with ginger molasses maple syrup, which sounds amazing, though I have no doubt they’d be just as good with plain maple syrup.

If your family is more into waffles than pancakes, try the Gingerbread Waffles from my site, One Hungry Mama. The picture makes them look humble, but they are one of my all-time favorite holiday breakfast recipes!

Confession: I’ve never made whoopie — um, pies, that is — at home. This recipe for Gingerbread Whoopie Pies sandwiched around lemon cream cheese filling might just change that! Josie from Pink Parsley has her own confession. She was nervous about pairing gingerbread and lemon, but it immediately appealed to me. If it does to you, too, I think we should take these on this holiday season. Who’s in?

Of course, you could just grab a dozen of these adorable Gingerbread Men Whoopie Pies by famous whoopie pie makers Cranberry Island Kitchen. Just be prepared to pay the price: A dozen of these treats will cost you a whopping $70 at Dean & Deluca.

I’m not sure what to say about these Gingerbread Cookie Cups with White Chocolate Mousse and Caramel except oh mah gah. Mindy of Creative Juice outdid herself with these. Though the recipe has three parts (i.e., will take more than just plopping cookies on a cookie sheet), none of the elements is all that hard. I think this one’s worth the extra effort!