Gingerbread Man Cookies
These classic Gingerbread Man Cookies are soft, spiced, and perfect for decorating.
Ingredients
- ¾ cup unsalted butter softened
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ⅔ cup molasses
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon cloves
- ½ teaspoon salt
Icing
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk (more if needed)
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
- Food coloring as desired
Instructions
Cookies
- In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Beat in molasses, egg, and vanilla until well combined.
- Gradually mix in flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt until dough forms.
- Divide dough in half, flatten each into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour (or up to overnight).
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out one dough disc at a time to about 1/4-inch thickness. Keep the other disc chilled until ready to use.
- Cut dough with gingerbread man cutters and place shapes about 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.
- Bake 8–10 minutes, until edges are set but centers are still slightly soft. For crisper cookies, bake 1–2 minutes longer.
- Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Icing & Decorating
- Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and corn syrup until smooth. The corn syrup helps give the icing a glossy finish.
- Divide into bowls and tint with food coloring as desired. Adjust consistency: add a drop of milk to thin for flooding, or more powdered sugar for thicker piping.
- Transfer icing to piping bags fitted with small round tips.
- Pipe outlines, buttons, faces, or clothing details on cooled gingerbread men. Add sprinkles, dragees, or small candies while icing is wet.
- Let cookies sit until icing is fully set before stacking or storing.
Nutrition
Calories: 217kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 2gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 105mgPotassium: 175mgFiber: 1gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 191IUVitamin C: 0.01mgCalcium: 34mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!