May 9, 2023
Review RecipeGingerbread Men Cookies
Table of Contents
Every holiday season, I always start celebrating by making spiced gingerbread men cookies because you can’t have a holiday party without these festive treats. They are pretty easy to make and it’s so much fun to decorate them with icing once they are warm out of the oven.
If you like this gingerbread cookie recipe, we’ve got plenty of different recipes for gingerbread. For softer cookies, try our soft gingerbread cookies and you should also try our gingerbread fudge for a creamy treat.
GINGERBREAD MEN COOKIES INGREDIENTS
You’ll need:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup salted sweet cream butter, softened
- ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup + 2 tablespoons unsulphured molasses
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- tinted sugar cookie icing (try our sugar cookie icing recipe) for decorating. We used red and white to decorate ours
PRO TIP:
Unsulphured molasses is made from ripe sugar cane and has no additives. It is generally the kind you will find at the grocery store and is different from blackstrap molasses.
SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS
PUMPKIN PIE SPICE: You can use apple pie spice instead of pumpkin pie spice in this great recipe.
HOW TO MAKE THIS GINGERBREAD MEN COOKIES RECIPE
STEP ONE: Using a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ground ginger and pumpkin pie spice. Set dry ingredients aside.
STEP TWO: Using a stand mixer, or a medium-sized mixing bowl and a handheld mixer on medium-high speed, beat the softened butter for 30 seconds.
STEP THREE: Add the light brown sugar, molasses, egg and vanilla and beat just until the ingredients are incorporated.
STEP FOUR: Add in the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, and beat on low until the flour is well combined.
STEP FIVE: Cover the dough with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
STEP SIX: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
STEP SEVEN: Remove the cookie dough from the refrigerator. Divide dough in half to make handling the dough manageable.
STEP EIGHT: Dust your work surface and your rolling pin with flour.
STEP NINE: Roll the gingerbread cookie dough to ⅛ to ¼ inch thickness on the floured surface.
STEP TEN: Press down with the cookie cutter, and gently wiggle the cutter to help ensure a clean cut.
PRO TIP:
Any cookie cutter shape can be used, as well as any candies to decorate after the cookies have been baked. The classic is a gingerbread man cookie cutter but different shapes will work too!
STEP ELEVEN: Place the cut cookie shapes 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet.
PRO TIP:
If you are freezing the unbaked cookies, if you have the extra baking sheets, this can make baking much easier.
STEP TWELVE: Bake cookies for 8 minutes.
STEP THIRTEEN: Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet 5 minutes before transferring the cookies to a wire rack. Allow the cookies to completely cool before decorating.
HOW TO SERVE
Your gingerbread people will be a delightful addition to your holiday cookie tray. Make sure to tap into your creativity when you are decorating them to give them each their own personalities. Check out our Minion sugar cookies and gingerbread snowmen for more inspiration.
MORE GINGERBREAD RECIPES
STORAGE
ON THE COUNTER: Store any leftover gingerbread man cookies in an airtight container, at room temperature for up to 4 days.
IN THE FRIDGE: You can also store cookies in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
IN THE FREEZER: You can store the unbaked cut cookie shapes in a single layer, covered in the freezer for 2 months. Allow the unbaked cut cookie shapes to thaw before baking.
Get your whole family in on the fun activity of decorating these darling gingerbread men. These perfect cookies are a fantastic addition to your holiday cookie jar, ideal for sharing and gobbling up in front of a cozy fireplace.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Would this recipe also work to make gingerbread houses?
This gingerbread cookies recipe would work fine to make gingerbread houses as well.
Do I have to chill the dough?
For best results, you need to chill the dough so that it is easier to roll and cut using the cookie cutters.
Can I use store-bought icing?
Any cookie decorating icing, whether homemade or store-bought is perfect to make your gingerbread men fancy.
MORE RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
- Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
- Butter Cookies
- Italian Cookies
- Twix Cookies
- Sushi Bowl
- Gingerbread Cake
- Gingerbread Cookies
- Apple Pie Cookies
Gingerbread Men Cookies
Spiced gingerbread men cookies add even more festive magic to the holiday season.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 48 minutes
Servings 32 cookies
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 ½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup salted sweet cream butter softened
- ¾ cup light brown sugar packed
- ½ cup unsulphured molasses
- 2 tablespoons unsulphured molasses
- 1 large egg room temperature
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- tinted sugar cookie icing see the sugar cookie icing recipe on our website for decorating
Instructions
- Using a medium size mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ground ginger and pumpkin pie spice. Set it aside.
- Using a stand mixer, or a medium size mixing bowl and a handheld mixer on medium-high speed, beat the softened butter for 30 seconds.
- Add the light brown sugar, molasses, egg and vanilla and beat just until the ingredients are incorporated.
- Add in the flour mixture, and beat on low until the flour is well combined.
- Cover the dough and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350*. Line 2 baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Remove the cookie dough from the refrigerator. Divide the dough in half to make handling the dough manageable.
- Dust your work surface and your rolling pin with flour.
- Roll the cookie dough to ⅛ to ¼ inch thickness.
- Press down with the cookie cutter, and gently wiggle the cutter to help ensure a clean cut.
- Place the cut cookie shapes 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 8 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow the cookies to rest on the baking sheet 5 minutes before transferring the cookies to a cooling rack. Allow the cookies to completely cool before decorating.
Notes
PRO TIP: Any cookie cutter shape can be used, as well as any candies to decorate after the cookies have been baked. The classic is a gingerbread man cookie cutter but different shapes will work too!
PRO TIP: If you are freezing the unbaked cookies, if you have the extra baking sheets, this can make baking much easier.
Nutrition
Calories: 136kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 91mg | Potassium: 121mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 186IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg
Have You Tried This Recipe?Follow me on Pinterest @spaceshipslb
Comments
Gloria says
These are so cute and yummy – definitely a classic!
kelly says
thank you
Charlene says
In the instructions you don’t mention the baking sofa. Do you add baking soda?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Charlene – you add it with the other dry ingredients. Enjoy!
Barb murphy says
This is by far the BEST gingerbread recipe I have ever used. Had three of my granddaughters over today and was looking for an easy and quick recipe.
This was it! So delicious!!
This is a keeper for sure..