Description
These Soft & Chewy Gingerbread Men Cookies are the perfect festive treat for the holiday season. Featuring warm spices like ginger and cinnamon, these cookies offer a tender, chewy texture and a rich molasses flavor. Decorated with royal icing and edible decorations, they are not only delicious but also fun to make and decorate with family and friends.
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 Decoration
- 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, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, nutmeg, and salt until well combined.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened unsalted butter and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which should take about 2-3 minutes.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Add molasses, the large egg, and vanilla extract to the butter and sugar mixture. Beat until everything is thoroughly combined and smooth.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix until a soft dough forms, being careful not to overmix.
- Chill the Dough: Divide the dough in half, wrap each half tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to firm up, which makes rolling easier.
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Roll and Cut Cookies: On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion of the chilled dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use gingerbread men cookie cutters to cut out shapes, and carefully place them on the prepared baking sheets.
- Repeat: Roll out the remaining dough and cut out additional cookies, placing them on baking sheets as before.
- Bake: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers remain soft. Avoid overbaking for a chewy texture.
- Cool: Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes to set, then transfer them to wire racks to cool completely.
- Decorate: Once fully cooled, decorate the gingerbread men with royal icing or store-bought icing and embellish with edible decorations such as sprinkles or candies. Let the icing set before serving.
Notes
- For best results, make sure the dough is well chilled before rolling out to prevent sticking and easier cutting.
- Do not overbake the cookies to maintain their soft and chewy texture.
- Use parchment paper or silicone mats to prevent the cookies from sticking to the baking sheets.
- Royal icing can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container.
- Decorate cookies once they are completely cooled to avoid melting the icing.
- These cookies store well in an airtight container for up to one week.
