Description
Warm, spiced, and perfectly shaped for the holidays, these Gingerbread Men Cookies bring Christmas cheer in every bite. Soft in the center with crisp edges, they’re ideal for decorating, gifting, or leaving out for Santa.
Ingredients
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
½ cup light or dark brown sugar, packed
½ cup unsulphured molasses
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoons ground ginger
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Icing:
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
2–4 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional: decorative candies and sprinkles
Instructions
1. Cream together butter, sugar, and molasses until smooth. Add egg and vanilla and mix until combined.
2. Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and spices in another bowl.
3. Gradually add dry mixture to wet until a sticky dough forms.
4. Divide dough, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 3 hours.
5. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
6. Roll chilled dough to ¼-inch thickness on a floured surface.
7. Cut shapes with cookie cutters and place on parchment-lined baking sheets.
8. Bake 8–10 minutes and cool completely.
9. Mix icing ingredients until smooth, adjusting with milk or sugar as needed.
10. Pipe or drizzle icing on cooled cookies, and allow to set before serving.
Notes
Dough will be sticky before chilling; this is expected. Use flour on your surface and rolling pin to prevent sticking.
If dough is too stiff after chilling, let it rest 10–20 minutes before rolling.
Avoid blackstrap molasses to prevent bitterness.
Cookie dough can be made up to 5 days ahead.
Store cookies in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
Icing can be stored with plastic wrap pressed to the surface.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Christmas Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 188
- Sugar: 26g
- Sodium: 92mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 17mg