How to Make Gingerbread Man Cookies That Are Almost Too Cute to Eat!

Remember that moment when the smell of fresh Gingerbread Man Cookies filled the house, instantly making it feel like Christmas?

There’s something about these classic treats that brings back warm holiday memories, doesn’t it? In just 45 minutes, and with a handful of cozy ingredients like cinnamon, ginger, and molasses, you can create a batch of the best gingerbread cookies right in your kitchen (without the stress of complicated techniques).

This recipe is a perfect balance between soft and chewy, with just the right amount of spice. You’re about to learn how to make these iconic holiday cookies, from dough prep to frosting ideas, so they look (and taste!) as good as they do in your favorite bakery.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

• Super easy and beginner-friendly.
• Soft, chewy, and perfectly spiced.
• Customizable for all your favorite icing ideas.
• Perfect for holiday parties or Christmas gifts.

Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe

Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 12-15 minutes
Total Time: 35-40 minutes

Ingredients (for 4 people):

Dry Ingredients:

• • 2 1/4 cups (270g) all-purpose flour (substitute with gluten-free flour for gluten intolerance)
  • 2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Wet Ingredients:

• • 1/2 cup (100g) unsalted butter, softened (substitute with dairy-free butter for lactose intolerance)
  • 1/2 cup (100g) packed dark brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup (80ml) molasses (substitute with honey if molasses is unavailable)
  • 1 large egg (substitute with flax egg for egg allergies: 1 tbsp flaxseed meal + 3 tbsp water)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Decorating:

• Icing: Royal Icing or Buttercream for detailed designs.
• Optional decorations: Colored sprinkles, small candies, or edible pearls.

Instructions:

1. Mix Dry Ingredients:

1. • In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt. Mixing dry ingredients ensures that all the spices and leavening agents are evenly distributed throughout the dough.

2. Cream the Butter and Sugar:

1. • In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy. This should take about 2-3 minutes. The key here is to ensure that the butter is softened for even mixing. This step creates a smooth texture in your cookies.

3. Add Wet Ingredients:

1. • Beat in the molasses, egg, and vanilla extract until combined. The molasses adds depth to the gingerbread flavor while the egg provides moisture and structure to the dough. If you’re using a substitute like honey or flax egg, ensure that it’s well combined with the other ingredients.

4. Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients:

1. • Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until a dough forms. The dough will be soft but should not be sticky. If needed, add a little more flour (1 tbsp at a time) until the dough is manageable.

5. Chill the Dough:

1. • Shape the dough into a disc, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Chilling the dough helps firm it up, making it easier to roll out and cut into shapes.

6. Preheat the Oven:

1. • Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

7. Roll and Cut the Dough:

1. • Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface until it’s about 1/4 inch thick. Using gingerbread man cookie cutters, cut out the cookies and place them 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets.

8. Bake:

1. • Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes or until they are firm around the edges. Avoid over-baking, as you want the cookies to stay soft and slightly chewy.

9. Cool and Decorate:

1. • Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack before decorating.
   • You can use royal icing, buttercream icing, or any preferred decorations to create the classic gingerbread man look. For the bowtie and buttons, use small candies or colored sprinkles.

Garnishing & Decoration Options:

• Classic Icing Faces: Use royal icing to create smiley faces, buttons, and bowties like in the image. You can make green or red bowties for a festive touch.
• Candy Accents: Add small round candies or edible pearls as buttons or accents.
• Icing Glaze: For a simple decoration, dip the top of the gingerbread men in an icing glaze (powdered sugar + milk).
• Festive Details: Pipe little trees, stars, or holiday lights on the cookies to make them festive and eye-catching for a Pinterest-perfect look!

Suggestions to Make the Dish Better:

1. Molasses Alternatives:
   I mentioned maple syrup or honey as a substitute for molasses. While they can be used, it’s important to note that they won’t provide the deep, rich flavor that molasses gives to gingerbread cookies. For a more authentic flavor, sticking with molasses is ideal. If you want a lighter flavor, you can reduce the molasses amount slightly rather than swap it out completely.
2. Chilling Time:
   The recipe mentions chilling the dough for 30 minutes, which is standard. However, if the kitchen is warm or if the dough still feels sticky, it might benefit from an additional 10-15 minutes of chilling. This will help maintain the shape of the cookies better during baking, especially if the dough is soft.
3. Rolling the Dough:
   It might be helpful to clarify that when rolling the dough, the surface should be lightly floured but not over-floured, as too much flour can dry out the dough and make the cookies tough.
4. Baking Time Variability:
   The suggested baking time is 10-12 minutes, which works well for achieving soft gingerbread cookies. However, depending on individual ovens, altitude, or cookie size, you should check for doneness starting at 8 minutes. If they prefer crispier cookies, they can let them bake for up to 13-14 minutes, but this may affect the softness.
5. Icing Consistency:
   Icing consistency is important for decoration. If the glaze is too thin, it will spread too much, making detailed decorating difficult. You should aim for a thick but spreadable consistency. If it’s too thick, a drop of milk or water can help thin it out, and if it’s too runny, adding more powdered sugar will help.
6. Storage Tip:
   To retain the soft texture, it’s worth mentioning that once baked and cooled, these cookies should be stored in an airtight container. Adding a slice of bread to the container will help maintain the cookies’ moisture and softness for a longer period of time.
7. Flavor Balance:
   If readers want a milder ginger flavor, they can reduce the ground ginger by half and increase the cinnamon slightly for a more balanced spice profile.
8. Cookie Thickness:
   If you are looking for a chewier cookie, you should make sure the dough is rolled slightly thicker (closer to 1/3 inch). Thinner cookies tend to be crisper.

Mistakes to Avoid While Making Gingerbread Man Cookies

Ingredient Selection:

1. Molasses Choice: Using light molasses can make your cookies less rich in flavor. Opt for dark molasses for a deep, authentic taste.
2. Flour Measurement: Make sure to spoon and level the flour to avoid dense cookies. Too much flour makes the dough dry and hard to work with.

Preparation Pitfalls:

1. Skipping the Chill Step: Not chilling the dough leads to sticky dough that’s difficult to shape and may spread too much during baking. Always chill the dough for at least an hour.
2. Over-rolling the Dough: Rolling the dough too thin will result in overly crisp cookies. Aim for 1/4 inch thickness for a soft, chewy texture.

Cooking Techniques:

1. Baking at the Wrong Temperature: Ensure your oven is properly preheated to 350°F (175°C). Baking at a lower temperature can cause the cookies to spread too much, while a higher temperature can lead to burnt edges.
2. Overbaking: Keep an eye on the cookies as they bake. They should be firm but not too hard. Overbaking will result in hard, dry cookies.

Seasoning and Flavoring:

1. Under-spicing: Gingerbread cookies rely on a balanced spice mix. Skimping on spices like ginger or cinnamon will make the cookies taste bland.

Presentation Tips:

1. Messy Icing: For a clean, professional look, use a piping bag with a fine tip to decorate your cookies neatly. Practice on parchment paper before decorating the cookies.
2. Uneven Shaping: Roll out the dough evenly to ensure your cookies bake uniformly. Uneven dough can result in some cookies being too soft and others too crispy.

Pairing Suggestions, and Seasonal Variation

1. Pairing Suggestions:
   • Beverage Pairing: A warm cup of spiced chai tea or a frothy hot chocolate with whipped cream pairs beautifully with these Soft Gingerbread Cookies. For a more adult touch, try them with mulled wine or spiced rum.
   • Side Dishes: Pair these cookies with a seasonal Christmas Mix With White Chocolate or Christmas Munchies for a festive dessert platter.
2. Seasonal Variation:
   • Winter Spice: For the holidays, consider adding a touch of orange zest to the dough for a refreshing citrus twist.
   • Spring Variation: Substitute some of the ginger for a light cardamom flavor and top the cookies with floral icing decorations.
   • Summer Option: Try a thinner, crisper version of the cookies (roll them thinner) and dip them partially in white chocolate for a cool summer treat.

Pro Tips:

1. Use Room Temperature Butter: This helps to evenly incorporate the ingredients and creates a smoother dough for your Gingerbread Men Cookies.
2. Chill Your Dough Properly: The longer you chill the dough, the easier it will be to work with and the less sticky it will get.
3. Roll Evenly: Use a rolling pin with thickness guides to ensure your Cookies Gingerbread are uniform and bake evenly.
4. Decorate Creatively: For the best results with Icing Buttercream, use a small piping bag and experiment with simple, cute patterns, avoiding over-complicated designs.

FAQs:

1. Can I freeze the dough?
   Yes, you can freeze the gingerbread cookie dough for up to 3 months. Just wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before baking.
2. What can I use instead of molasses?
   If you don’t have molasses, dark corn syrup or honey can be used, but keep in mind this will slightly change the flavor.
3. How do I store gingerbread cookies?
   Store your Gingerbread Man Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. Adding a slice of bread to the container will help keep them soft.
4. Can I make them gluten-free?
   Absolutely! Substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend to make a gluten-free version of Easy Gingerbread Cookies.

Closing Thoughts

I hope you enjoy making and decorating these Gingerbread Man Cookies as much as I did. They’re a perfect way to bring the holiday spirit into your home, whether for a family gathering, cookie exchange, or holiday party.

Don’t forget to share your creations! I’d love to see your cookie designs and hear how you made these gingerbread men your own. Feel free to comment below or tag me in your social media posts. Happy baking!

Gingerbread Man Cookies

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Ingredients

  

Dry Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt

Wet Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar packed
• 1/3 cup molasses
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

 

• Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the flour, spices, baking soda, and salt.
• Cream Butter & Sugar: In a separate bowl, beat butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add molasses, egg, and vanilla; mix until smooth.
• Combine: Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until a dough forms. Chill the dough for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat & Shape: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out the dough (1/4 inch thick), and use gingerbread man cookie cutters to shape.
• Bake: Bake on lined sheets for 12-15 minutes until firm around the edges. Cool on a wire rack.
• Decorate: Once cooled, decorate with royal icing or buttercream and optional sprinkles.

Optional Garnishing:

• Royal icing faces and details
• Small candies for buttons or accents

Disclaimer: The recipes shared on this blog are based on personal preferences and are provided for informational purposes only. I strive to ensure accuracy and relevance, but cannot guarantee that the information will always be up to date or error-free. They should not be considered as medical or health advice. If you have any health issues, dietary restrictions, or allergies, please consult with a specialist or healthcare provider before trying any recipe. I do not accept responsibility for any adverse effects that may arise from the preparation or consumption of the dishes featured on this site. Also, the final outcome of the recipes can look different depending on a lot of factors, including the cooking temperature, process, utensils you use, spices, etc. Enjoy responsibly!