Description
Bake up a batch of Classic Gingerbread Men Cookies! Recreate that nostalgic scent of ginger and molasses with my tried-and-true family recipe.
Ingredients
Scale
- The Spice & Flour Base:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon salt
- The Rich Wet Mix:
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup dark brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup unsulphured molasses
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Simple Icing & Fun Decor:
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk (or water)
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optional food coloring
- Assorted candy decorations (sprinkles, mini chocolate chips)
Instructions
- Whisk Your Dry Ingredients:: First things first, grab a medium bowl and whisk together your flour, baking soda, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Make sure it’s all really well combined; you don’t want a rogue pocket of baking soda in your cookies, trust me on that one. It should smell wonderfully spicy already, a hint of the deliciousness to come!
- Cream Butter & Sugar:: In a larger bowl, or your stand mixer, beat the room-temperature unsalted butter and dark brown sugar together until it’s light and fluffy. This usually takes about 2-3 minutes. I always scrape down the sides of the bowl a couple of times, because inevitably, some butter likes to hide. This step is crucial for that tender crumb in your Classic Gingerbread Men Cookies!
- Add Wet Flavor Boosters:: Now, beat in the molasses, egg, and vanilla extract until everything is just combined. Don’t overmix here, just get it blended. It will look a bit sticky and dark, and that rich molasses smell will start to really fill your kitchen. Honestly, this is where the magic begins to happen for these cookies!
- Combine Wet & Dry:: Gradually add your dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Stop as soon as there are no visible streaks of flour. Overmixing makes for tough cookies, and nobody wants a tough gingerbread man! The dough will be soft and a little sticky, but that’s totally normal.
- Chill the Gingerbread Dough:: This is the secret step for perfect Classic Gingerbread Men Cookies! Divide the dough in half, flatten each into a disk, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour, or up to 3 days. I once tried to skip this, and my gingerbread men turned into blob-men. Don’t be like me; chilling helps prevent spreading and makes rolling so much easier.
- Roll & Cut Your Cookies:: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of chilled dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use your favorite gingerbread men cutters to cut out shapes. Carefully transfer them to your prepared baking sheets, leaving about an inch between each. Gather the scraps, re-roll, and cut more until all the dough is used.
- Bake the Classic Gingerbread Men Cookies:: Bake for 8-12 minutes, depending on your oven and desired crispness. The edges should be lightly browned. They might still seem a little soft in the middle, but they’ll firm up as they cool. Let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. The smell, oh my goodness, the smell is just incredible!
- Decorate with Joy:: Once your gingerbread men are completely cool, it’s time for the fun part! Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract together for a simple icing. Adjust milk for desired consistency. Pipe on faces, buttons, or whatever festive designs you fancy. Add sprinkles or candies. This is where you can let your creativity (or your kids’ creativity) shine! I always end up with icing on my nose, honestly.