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There’s nothing quite like the aroma of freshly baked gingerbread. This Gingerbread Men Recipe is the perfect holiday treat!
A good Gingerbread Men Recipe is a must-have for any Christmas time celebration. Am I right? With their warm spices and fun shapes, they bring joy to both kids and adults alike.
Plus, decorating them is a fun activity for the whole family! I’m convinced that this is what Lily loves most about the holidays. Frosting the cookies and licking the bowl!!
This gingerbread recipe is easy to follow and gets you the best gingerbread cookies. They’re soft in the center with just the right amount of chewiness.
You know the feeling when you bite into the perfectly firm and chewy cookie? It’s always one of my holiday goals. The search for the perfect cookie!
The perfect blend of spices like ground ginger, cinnamon, and cloves gives these cookies their signature flavor. A huge classic for a reason.
And don’t worry if you’re new to baking; this easy recipe is totally doable for beginners.
So, roll up your sleeves, grab your gingerbread man cookie cutter, and let’s throw together this Gingerbread Men Recipe that will become your favorite for years to come!
Some of our other favorite holiday recipes we have on our site include: Glazed Cinnamon Apple Twists with Pie Crust, Peanut Butter Oreo Chocolate Truffles (Buckeyes Recipe), and Snickerdoodle Sandwich Cookies with White Chocolate Frosting.
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
- Perfect Texture: Creates soft gingerbread cookies that are chewy and delicious.
- Flavorful Spices: Uses a mix of warm spices for that classic gingerbread taste.
- Fun to Decorate: The dough holds its shape, making it ideal for using cookie cutters and decorating with royal icing.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED (SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR THE FULL RECIPE CARD):
- All-purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Ground ginger
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground all-spice
- Ground cloves
- Unsalted butter
- Brown sugar
- Unsulphured or dark molasses
- Large egg
- Pure vanilla extract
- Icing of your choice
HOW TO MAKE THIS GINGERBREAD MEN RECIPE:
- Whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, all-spice, and cloves in a large bowl.
- In a separate large bowl, using a handheld or stand mixer, beat the butter for one minute until smooth.
- Add the brown sugar and molasses and continue to beat until creamy.
- Then, add in the egg and vanilla and mix for two minutes.
- Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and beat on low speed until well combined.
- Separate the dough into two parts and form both into a disk shape.
- Place the dough in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Chill for at least 3 hours and up to 3 days. This step is necessary.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and line 1-2 baking trays with parchment paper.
- Remove the chilled dough and generously flour your clean work surface.
- Begin rolling out the dough. It is likely to crack. Work slowly, and as you notice a crack while rolling, mend the crack using your fingers. The dough will become smoother as you continue to roll.
- Repeat the process with both disks of dough. Cut into shapes using your gingerbread man cookie cutter and place on the prepared sheet trays 1-2 inches apart.
- Reroll the scraps and cut them into shapes until all the dough is gone.
- Place the cookies into the oven and bake for approximately 10 minutes. If your cookies are smaller than 4 inches, start with 8 minutes. If they are larger than 4 inches, bake for approximately 11 minutes.
- Allow the cookies to cool for 5 minutes before transferring to the cooling rack.
- The cookies are ready to decorate as desired once fully cooled.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS RECIPE:
WHAT KIND OF MOLASSES IS THE BEST TO USE?
For the best flavor, use unsulphured or dark molasses.
It adds a rich, deep taste to the cookies.
Avoid blackstrap molasses, as it can be too bitter for baking. Then again, maybe you like that sort of thing!
CAN THESE BE MADE IN ADVANCE?
Absolutely! You can make the gingerbread cookie dough ahead of time.
Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator for up to three days.
You can also freeze the dough for up to three months.
Just thaw it in the fridge overnight before using. Then you’ll have some cookies ready to go on a moment’s notice!
ANY ADDITIONS?
Check out this list of ideas. I’m really happy with it.
If you have any others, let me know in the comments!
- Orange zest: Add a teaspoon to the dough for a citrus twist.
- Black pepper: A pinch enhances the spice blend.
- White chocolate chips: Mix into the dough for extra sweetness.
- Sprinkles: Decorate with colorful sprinkles before baking.
- Fresh ginger: Grate some into the dough for a stronger ginger flavor.
- Nuts: Add chopped pecans or walnuts for a crunchy texture.
- Dried fruit: Mix in raisins or cranberries.
- Colored icing: Use different colors of royal icing for decorating.
- Candy decorations: Use small candies for buttons and eyes.
- Glaze: Brush a simple sugar glaze over the cookies when warm.
ANY SUBSTITUTIONS?
You got it! There are always options when you’re baking.
- Unsalted butter: Use salted butter and omit the added salt.
- Molasses: Substitute with golden syrup or dark corn syrup.
- All-purpose flour: Use a gluten-free flour blend to make free flour cookies.
- Brown sugar: Replace with granulated sugar; however, brown sugar adds moisture and flavor.
- Egg: Use a flax egg or applesauce for an egg-free version.
- Spices: Adjust to taste or use pumpkin pie spice as a substitute.
HOW TO STORE:
Refrigerator: Place cooled baked cookies in an airtight container. They can be stored at room temperature for up to a week.
If you prefer a softer cookie, add a slice of bread to the container to keep them moist.
Freezer: Freeze undecorated cookies by layering them between sheets of parchment paper in a freezer-safe container. They can be frozen for up to three months.
Thaw at room temperature before decorating. You can also freeze the dough wrapped in plastic wrap for later use.
DANA’S TIPS AND TRICKS:
- Chill the Dough: Don’t skip chilling; it makes rolling easier and prevents spreading.
- Use a Lightly Floured Surface: Prevents sticking when rolling out the dough.
- Roll Evenly: Aim for 1/4-inch thickness for consistent baking.
- Re-roll Dough Scraps: Gather and roll out dough scraps to make more cookies.
- Watch Baking Time: Bake at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes. Adjust time for cookie size.
- Cool Completely Before Decorating: Place cookies on a wire rack to cool before icing.
This classic gingerbread men recipe is the perfect addition to your holiday baking.
Making and decorating these guys is a fun activity for the whole family.
So, gather your loved ones, unleash your creativity, and enjoy the festive spirit with this perfect recipe!
If you like this recipe, you might also like:
From Scratch Gingerbread Men Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar packed
- 2/3 cup unsulphured or dark molasses
- 1 large egg room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- icing of your choice
Instructions
- Whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves in a large bowl.3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon ground ginger, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice, 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- In a separate large bowl, using a handheld or stand mixer, beat the butter for one minute until smooth.10 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Add the brown sugar and molasses and continue to beat until creamy.3/4 cup light brown sugar, 2/3 cup unsulphured or dark molasses
- Then, add in the egg and vanilla and mix for two minutes.1 large egg, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and beat on low speed until well combined.
- Separate the dough into two parts and form both into a disk shape.
- Place the dough in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Chill for at least 3 hours and up to 3 days. This step is necessary.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and line 1-2 baking trays with parchment paper.
- Remove the chilled dough and generously flour your clean work surface.
- Begin rolling out the dough. It is likely to crack. Work slowly, and as you notice a crack while rolling, mend the crack using your fingers. The dough will become smoother as you continue to roll.
- Repeat the process with both disks of dough. Cut into shapes using your gingerbread man cookie cutter and place on the prepared sheet trays 1-2 inches apart.
- Reroll the scraps and cut them into shapes until all the dough is gone.
- Place the cookies into the oven and bake for approximately 10 minutes. If your cookies are smaller than 4 inches, start with 8 minutes. If they are larger than 4 inches, bake for approximately 11 minutes.
- Allow the cookies to cool for 5 minutes before transferring to the cooling rack.
- The cookies are ready to decorate as desired once fully cooled.icing of your choice
Notes
- Chill the Dough: Don’t skip chilling; it makes rolling easier and prevents spreading.
- Use a Lightly Floured Surface: Prevents sticking when rolling out the dough.
- Roll Evenly: Aim for 1/4-inch thickness for consistent baking.
- Re-roll Dough Scraps: Gather and roll out dough scraps to make more cookies.
- Watch Baking Time: Bake at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes. Adjust time for cookie size.
- Cool Completely Before Decorating: Place cookies on a wire rack to cool before icing.
Nutrition
Love This Recipe?
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