Description
These Soft & Chewy Gingerbread Men Cookies are a delightful holiday treat, combining warm spices like ginger, cinnamon, and cloves with a rich molasses base. Perfectly soft on the inside yet slightly crisp on the edges, they’re ideal for decorating with royal icing and festive edible decorations to bring joy to your seasonal celebrations.
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
Decoration
- Royal icing or store-bought icing
- Edible decorations (sprinkles, candy, etc.)
Instructions
- Make the Dough: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt to evenly combine all dry ingredients.
- Cream Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, use a mixer to cream the softened butter and brown sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, then add molasses, egg, and vanilla extract, mixing thoroughly.
- Combine Dry and Wet Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring or mixing until a soft dough forms without overmixing.
- Chill the Dough: Divide the dough in half, wrap each portion tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the dough to firm up for easier handling.
- 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 & Cut Shapes: On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion of dough to approximately 1/4-inch thickness. Use gingerbread men-shaped cookie cutters to cut out shapes, then place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets. Repeat with the remaining dough.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers remain soft. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes to firm up before transferring them to wire racks to cool completely.
- Decorate: Once the cookies are completely cooled, decorate them with royal icing and edible decorations as desired. Allow the icing to set fully before serving or storing.
Notes
- Chilling the dough improves the texture and makes rolling easier.
- Do not overbake to maintain a soft and chewy texture.
- Royal icing works best for detailed decorations but store-bought icing can also be used for convenience.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
