Description
These Soft & Chewy Gingerbread Men Cookies are a classic holiday treat featuring warm spices like ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. The cookies are perfectly soft in the center with slightly crisp edges, made rich with molasses and brown sugar, then beautifully decorated with royal icing and festive edible decorations. Ideal for baking with family and spreading holiday cheer.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For Decorating
- Royal icing or store-bought icing
- Edible decorations (sprinkles, candy, etc.)
Instructions
- Make the Dough: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt until evenly combined.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use a hand or stand mixer to cream the softened unsalted butter and brown sugar until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well blended.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Beat in the molasses, egg, and vanilla extract until fully incorporated, creating a smooth mixture.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the whisked dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing just until a soft dough forms without over-mixing.
- Chill Dough: Divide the dough into two equal portions, wrap each in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to firm up and allow flavors to meld.
- Prepare for Baking: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Roll and Cut: On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion of chilled dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use gingerbread men cookie cutters to cut shapes and transfer them onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them slightly apart.
- Repeat: Roll out the remaining dough and cut additional cookies, placing them on the baking sheets.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges appear set but the centers remain soft and chewy.
- Cool Cookies: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes to firm up, then transfer them to wire racks to cool completely.
- Decorate: Once fully cooled, decorate the gingerbread men with royal icing and your choice of edible decorations such as sprinkles and candy. Allow the icing to set before serving for best results.
Notes
- For thicker cookies, roll the dough to 1/2-inch thickness before cutting.
- Chilling the dough helps prevent spreading during baking and improves flavor.
- Royal icing can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container for decorating convenience.
- Store baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- To keep cookies fresh longer, place a slice of bread in the container to maintain softness.
- For a spicier kick, increase the ground ginger or add a pinch of black pepper to the dough.
