Jolly Holiday Gingerbread Men: A Magical Festive Recipe

Baking soft and spicy gingerbread men cookies during the holiday season sparks pure joy and childhood memories.

These delightful traditional Christmas gingerbread men cookies capture the spirit of festive celebrations with their warm, aromatic spices.

Each carefully crafted cookie brings a touch of whimsy and sweetness to your kitchen.

The rich blend of molasses, cinnamon, and ginger creates a comforting aroma that fills your home.

Decorated with colorful icing and playful expressions, these cookies transform simple ingredients into edible art.

You’ll love how these charming treats connect generations through their nostalgic flavor and delightful design.

Gather your ingredients and let the holiday baking magic begin!

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Calories: 180 kcal

Servings: 24

Soft & Chewy Gingerbread Men Cookie Ingredients

• All-Purpose Flour: Creates the cookie's sturdy base, select unbleached flour for best texture.
• Ground Ginger: Delivers signature warm spice, choose fresh ground for intense flavor.
• Ground Cinnamon: Adds sweet-spicy depth, look for high-quality Ceylon variety.
• Ground Nutmeg: Brings subtle warmth, freshly grated is more aromatic than pre-ground.
• Ground Cloves: Provides rich, intense flavor, use sparingly to avoid overwhelming.
• Baking Soda: Helps cookies rise and spread evenly, ensure it's fresh and not expired.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor profile.

• Butter: Creates rich, tender texture, use unsalted for precise flavor control.
• Brown Sugar: Adds moisture and deep caramel notes, opt for dark brown for more intensity.
• Egg: Binds ingredients and provides structure, room temperature works best.
• Molasses: Delivers classic gingerbread flavor, choose robust or blackstrap variety.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall sweetness, pure extract recommended over artificial.

• Royal Icing: Creates smooth, hardening decoration for finishing cookies.
• Sprinkles: Adds festive touch and extra sweetness.
• Candies: Provides playful decorative elements for personalization.

Tools That Help Shape Gingerbread Men Cookies

• Large mixing bowl: Essential for creaming butter and mixing ingredients thoroughly.
• Electric mixer or whisk: Perfect for achieving light, fluffy butter mixture.
• Separate mixing bowl: Needed for combining dry ingredients.
• Cookie cutters (gingerbread man shape): Crucial for creating classic cookie shapes.
• Rolling pin: Helps roll dough to consistent 1/4-inch thickness.
• Baking sheets: Use two lined with parchment paper for even baking.
• Parchment paper: Prevents cookies from sticking and ensures easy removal.
• Wire cooling rack: Allows cookies to cool evenly and crisp up.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Ensures accurate ingredient measurements.

Bake Gingerbread Men That Are Soft and Spiced

• Whip Up the Gingerbread Base

Grab a mixing bowl and blend butter with brown sugar until it’s super fluffy. Pour in egg, molasses, and vanilla, mixing everything until it’s smooth and happy. In another bowl, mix dry ingredients like a flavor wizard, combining flour, spices, and baking essentials.

• Create Cookie

Chill the dough for about an hour to let the flavors mingle and get cozy. When ready, dust your countertop with flour and roll out the dough like you’re crafting an edible masterpiece. Use a gingerbread man cutter to transform the dough into cute little cookie people.

• Bake to Perfection

Fire up the oven to 350F and slide your cookie friends onto baking sheets. Bake for 8-10 minutes, watching carefully so they stay soft and chewy. The edges should look set but the centers remain tender.

• Dress Up Your Cookies

Once cooled, let your creativity run wild! Decorate with royal icing, sprinkle on fun toppings, or add tiny candy details. Let the decorations set before serving these delightful treats.

Tips for Decorating Soft Gingerbread Cookies

• Master Soft Gingerbread Men with These Pro Tips
• Refrigerate dough for at least 1 hour to prevent spreading and ensure crisp cookie edges. Overnight chilling enhances flavor depth and creates more defined shapes.
• Dust work surface lightly with flour to prevent sticking without making cookies dry. Use powdered sugar instead of flour for a subtle sweetness and smoother rolling.
• Remove cookies from oven when edges are set but centers look slightly underbaked for maximum chewiness. They'll continue firming up while cooling on the baking sheet.
• Swap wheat flour with gluten-free blend for celiac-friendly version. Replace butter with vegan margarine and egg with flax egg for plant-based cookies that taste just as delicious.
• Add orange zest or dark chocolate chips to dough for unexpected flavor twists. Enhance spice profile by increasing ground ginger or adding cardamom for more complex taste experience.

Serve These Cookies for Classic Holiday Treats

• Festive Holiday Gathering: Arrange these gingerbread men on a festive platter with candy canes and holiday-themed napkins for a cheerful Christmas party spread.
• Cookie Decorating Party: Invite friends and kids to personalize their own gingerbread men with colorful icing, buttons, and sprinkles, creating a fun interactive dessert experience.
• Gifting Delight: Package individually wrapped cookies in clear cellophane bags tied with rustic twine or holiday ribbons for charming homemade edible gifts that spread joy and warmth.
• Dessert Pairing: Serve alongside warm spiced apple cider or creamy hot chocolate for a cozy winter treat that enhances the rich, spicy flavors of the gingerbread cookies.

Store Gingerbread Men to Keep Them Chewy

• Store cooled gingerbread men in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 7 days. Layer cookies between parchment paper to prevent sticking and maintain softness.
• Wrap undecorated cookies tightly in plastic wrap, then place in freezer bags. Freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw at room temperature and decorate when ready to enjoy.
• Prepare cookie dough up to 3 days before baking. Keep wrapped disks in refrigerator for maximum freshness. Let dough sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before rolling to ensure easy handling.
• After cutting shapes, freeze unbaked cookie cutouts on a tray. Transfer frozen shapes to a freezer bag for spontaneous baking. When ready, bake directly from frozen state, adding 1-2 extra minutes to cooking time.

FAQs

• Are gingerbread cookies difficult to make?

Gingerbread cookies are surprisingly easy to make. The key is chilling the dough, which helps prevent spreading and makes the cookies easier to cut into shapes.

• What gives these cookies their distinctive flavor?

The combination of warm spices like ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves creates the classic gingerbread taste. Molasses adds depth and a rich, slightly bitter sweetness that defines the traditional flavor.

• Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes! You can prepare the dough up to 2-3 days in advance and keep it refrigerated. This actually helps develop the flavors and makes the dough easier to handle when you’re ready to bake.

• How do I keep my gingerbread cookies soft and chewy?

Don’t overbake the cookies. Remove them from the oven when the edges are set but the centers are still slightly soft. Let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes to retain moisture.

Festive Gingerbread Men Cookies Recipe

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4.9 from 19 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 25 1x

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Description

Delightful gingerbread men cookies bring holiday cheer with their perfect blend of spices and sweetness. Festive treats will delight friends and family, creating memorable moments of joy and warmth.

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Ingredients

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• 3 cups (360 g) all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup (150 g) brown sugar, packed
• ½ cup (120 ml) unsulfured molasses
• ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tbsp ground ginger
• 1 ½ tsps ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground nutmeg
• ½ tsp ground cloves
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• royal icing (store-bought or homemade)
• assorted sprinkles or candies

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Instructions

1. Dough Preparation: Cream butter and brown sugar until smooth, then blend in egg, molasses, and vanilla to create a rich, fragrant base.
2. Dry Ingredient Fusion: Combine flour, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, baking soda, and salt, whisking to distribute spices evenly throughout the mixture.
3. Dough Formation: Incorporate dry ingredients into wet mixture, kneading until a cohesive, pliable dough forms. Divide into two disks, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least one hour to intensify flavors and improve texture.
4. Shaping and Cutting: Preheat oven to 350F and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll out chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness. Use gingerbread man cookie cutter to create festive shapes, placing them one inch apart on prepared sheets.
5. Baking Process: Bake for 8-10 minutes, watching for set edges and slightly soft centers. Allow cookies to rest briefly on baking sheet before transferring to a cooling rack.
6. Decorative Finishing: Once completely cooled, adorn gingerbread men with royal icing, sprinkles, or candy embellishments. Let decorations set before serving or storing.

Notes

• Chill Dough Thoroughly: Refrigerate for at least one hour to prevent spreading and maintain crisp cookie shapes during baking.
• Control Spice Intensity: Adjust ground spices according to personal preference, balancing ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg for a personalized flavor profile.
• Prevent Sticking Technique: Dust rolling pin and work surface generously with flour to ensure smooth dough handling and easy cookie cutting.
• Bake with Precision: Watch cookies carefully during last few minutes to achieve soft, chewy texture without over-browning edges, removing from oven when edges just start to firm up.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 25
• Calories: 170
• Sugar: 9 g
• Sodium: 80 mg
• Fat: 8 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 24 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 20 mg