Gingerbread Man Cookies (Print Version)

Crisp edges meet tender centers in spiced gingerbread men, ideal for holiday decorating and sharing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1 tablespoon ground ginger
05 - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
06 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
07 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

→ Wet Ingredients

08 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
09 - 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
10 - 1 large egg
11 - 1/2 cup unsulfured molasses
12 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

→ Decoration (optional)

13 - Royal icing or colored icing
14 - Mini chocolate chips, sprinkles, or candies

# How-To Steps:

01 - Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg in a medium bowl. Set aside.
02 - Beat butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
03 - Add egg, molasses, and vanilla extract; mix until fully combined.
04 - Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring on low speed until just combined.
05 - Divide dough into two halves, shape each into a disk, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 1 hour.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
07 - Roll chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness and cut into gingerbread men shapes.
08 - Place cookies 2 inches apart on prepared sheets.
09 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until edges are set and beginning to brown.
10 - Let cookies cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
11 - Decorate with icing and candies as desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • They're crisp enough to decorate beautifully but stay tender where it matters most.
  • The spice blend is bold without being overwhelming—it tastes like the holidays smell.
  • You can make the dough ahead and bake fresh cookies whenever the mood strikes.
02 -
  • Overbaking by even 2 minutes turns these into hard little hockey pucks—pull them out when the edges look set but the centers still have a slight give.
  • If your dough cracks when you roll it out, it's too cold; let it sit at room temperature for 5 minutes and try again.
03 -
  • Room temperature butter and egg incorporate more smoothly and create a better texture than cold ones.
  • Rolling between two sheets of parchment paper eliminates mess and prevents sticking—a small thing that changes everything.

Go Back