Classic Chewy Gingerbread Man Cookies
These classic chewy gingerbread man cookies are perfectly spiced and have a delightful tender texture, making them a holiday favorite.
Equipment
- medium bowl
- large bowl
- electric mixer
- plastic wrap
- baking sheets
- parchment paper
- rolling pin
- gingerbread man cookie cutters
- wire rack
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened (1 ½ sticks)
- ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup unsulphured dark molasses
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Preparation
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt, then set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat the softened butter and light brown sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes).
- Beat in the molasses and egg until combined, scraping the sides; then stir in the vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined without overmixing.
- Divide the dough in half, flatten into disks, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
Baking
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll one disk of chilled dough to ¼-inch thickness on a floured surface or between parchment paper, then cut shapes with gingerbread man cutters.
- Transfer cut-out cookies to prepared baking sheets, leaving 1 inch between them, and bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are lightly golden but centers are still soft.
- Cool cookies on baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely, as they will firm up as they cool.
- Once completely cool, decorate with royal icing, drizzles, or sprinkles if desired.
Notes
Chilling the dough is crucial for easier handling and to prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking. Baking times can vary depending on your oven, so watch the cookies closely. For a festive touch, use various cookie cutter shapes beyond just gingerbread men.