Description
Gingerbread men cookies are more than just a festive dessert; they’re a tradition steeped in nostalgia, warmth, and the magic of the holiday season. Their signature spicy-sweet aroma can transform any kitchen into a cozy wonderland. But not all gingerbread cookies are created equal. Many recipes result in cookies that are overly crisp or dry, leaving you missing that perfect balance of chewiness and softness.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Cookies
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
For Decorating
- Royal icing (optional)
- Assorted sprinkles, candies, or edible glitter
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough:
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until smooth and fluffy. Add the molasses, egg, and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined. - Combine Dry Ingredients:
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms. - Chill the Dough:
Divide the dough into two portions and flatten each into a disc. Wrap them in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or up to overnight). Chilling the dough makes it easier to roll out and prevents spreading during baking. - Preheat the Oven:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. - Roll and Cut:
Lightly flour your work surface and roll out one portion of dough to about ¼-inch thickness. Use gingerbread man cookie cutters to cut out shapes, re-rolling scraps as needed. Transfer the cut-outs to the prepared baking sheets, spacing them 1 inch apart. - Bake:
Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers remain slightly soft. Be careful not to overbake, as this will result in a crisp cookie. - Cool:
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. - Decorate:
Once cooled, decorate the cookies with royal icing, sprinkles, or candies as desired. Let the decorations set before serving or storing.
- Prep Time: 10mins
- Cook Time: 10mins