No Christmas is complete without a Gingerbread Man running around!
That’s why this easy Gingerbread Men Cookies Recipe is the perfect tasty, classic treat to add to your dessert table this year!
Gingerbread Men Cookies Recipe
Can you believe Christmas is just around the corner? This Gingerbread Men Cookies Recipe is just what your holiday season needs!
Trust me… these festive cookies will deliver big flavor and pure nostalgia with every bite!
Lisa writes: “I love these gingerbread cookies – family favorite”
Just beware. These soft Gingerbread Man Cookies are a temptation no one in my home can ever resist.
They seem to magically disappear whenever I leave the room!
I especially love how versatile these cute cookies are!
You can finish off your Gingerbread Cookies with icing or Cream Cheese Frosting… or you can go next level and let your creativity go wild.
You can decorate Gingerbread Men with white or colored icing, cream cheese frosting, powdered sugar, mini M&M’s, and so much more!
So are you ready to get baking?
Here’s what you’ll need to make the best ever chewy gingerbread cookies…
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Gingerbread Men Cookies Ingredients
So what are gingerbread man cookies made of?
Well, to make the BEST Ginger Man Cookies, you’ll need the following ingredients on hand…
- Unsalted Butter
- Brown Sugar
- Granulated (White) Sugar
- Large Eggs
- Vanilla Extract
- Molasses
- All Purpose Flour
- Ground Ginger
- Ground Cinnamon
- Allspice
- Ground Cloves
- Salt
- Baking Soda
Should Gingerbread Cookies Be Soft or Hard?
When it comes to the texture of gingerbread cookies, it really all comes down to personal preference.
Some like gingerbread cookies to be hard and crunchy, while others like gingerbread cookies to be soft and chewy. This recipe will make a perfectly soft, delicious gingerbread man.
Trust me… you’re going to LOVE them!
How Long Can You Keep Gingerbread Man Cookies?
So what about storage or prepping ahead?
Here’s what I’ve found works best…
Storage Tip: These cookies will last well at room temperature, stored covered, for up to 1 week. If using cream cheese icing, I like to pipe and frost just before serving.
Prep Ahead Tip: Dough can be made ahead of time and stored up to 3 days in the refrigerator prior to baking.
Freezer Tip: Baked gingerbread cookies that have not yet been frosted can be frozen in a freezer safe container or freezer bag up to 1 month.
If stacking cookies in the container, flash freeze cookies first, then place a sheet of parchment paper between each layer.
How To Make Gingerbread Man Cookies
It’s actually so easy to make the most amazing gingerbread man cookies!
Here’s what you’ll do…
1. Start by mixing up your dough.
2. Once dough is mixed, chill your dough in the refrigerator.
3. Once chilled, remove the dough and roll it out.
4. Cut out your shapes using your favorite cookie cutters.
5. Then bake your cookies per the instructions in the recipe card below.
6. Allow the cookies to cool on racks before decorating.
7. Once cooled, frost or decorate your cookies.
Serve, Enjoy & DEVOUR!
Scroll down for the printable recipe card with detailed, step-by-step instructions.
How to Decorate Gingerbread Cookies
There are so many different ways you can decorate your gingerbread men cookies.
In fact… believe it or not, you don’t even have to make gingerbread men! You can use any cookie cutters you’d like to make these delicious treats! Here are some of my favorite ideas…
- Creative cookie cutters
- Royal Icing piped on
- Cream Cheese Frosting
- Mini M&M’s for buttons
- Powdered Sugar
- Colored Decorating Gels
No matter how they’re decorated, the best part is that first delicious bite… I mean they’re asking for it, right?
Gingerbread Men Cookies Reviews
Here’s what your frugal friends are saying about these easy Gingerbread Man Cookies…
Kim writes: “I love them!”
Erika writes: “Amazing and delicious cookies”
Rebecca writes: “My absolute favorite.”
Betty writes: “Delicious”
Tara writes: “Our family fave”
Lisa writes: “I love these gingerbread cookies – family favorite”
Dawn writes: “Such a fun weekend baking project! I just love the taste and smell”
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Did You Enjoy This Recipe? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Leave a comment & review below!
Gingerbread Men Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup Unsalted Butter (10 tbsp) (softened to room temperature)
- 2/3 cup Brown Sugar (packed)
- 1/2 cup Granulated (White) Sugar
- 2 large Eggs
- 2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
- 1/2 cup Molasses
- 2 tbsp Water
- 3 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour (divided)
- 3 1/2 tsp. Ground Ginger
- 3 1/2 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. Ground Cloves
- 3/4 tsp. Allspice
- 1 1/4 tsp. Salt
- 1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
Instructions
- In large bowl, cream together Butter, Brown Sugar, and Granulated Sugar with mixer until smooth.
- Add in Eggs & Vanilla, and continue to mix.
- Then add in Molasses and Water, and continue mixing until combined.
- In medium mixing bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups Flour, Ginger, Cinnamon Cloves, Allspice, Salt, and Baking Soda until well combined.
- Transfer Flour/Spice mixture into large bowl with Butter/Sugar mixture, and continue to mix until well combined.
- Then gradually add in remaining Flour, while stirring mixture with a wooden spoon.
- Once all Flour has been added, you may need to get your hands dirty and work flour into dough to finish combining. If dough seems too dry, add a drop of water at a time until it is firm and smooth.
- Divide dough into 2 portions, flatten into discs, wrap each portion in plastic wrap, then transfer to the refrigerator. Allow dough to chill overnight, or at least a minimum of 4 hours.
- When you're ready to bake your cookies, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Generously coat a large cutting board with Flour, and remove 1 portion of dough from the refrigerator at a time.
- Sprinkle the top and bottom of the dough with additional Flour, and generously cover your rolling pin with Flour as well.
- Roll dough out to 1/8" – 1/4" thickness, then cut out shapes using cookie cutters, and carefully transfer to parchment paper lined cookie sheet leaving at least 1 inch between cookies. (As the dough warms up, it will become more sticky, so work quickly and wrap up any leftover scraps in plastic wrap, and store them in the refrigerator.)
- Bake 8 – 10 minutes, or until done. (Bake times will vary based upon thickness, types of cookie sheets being used, ovens, and elevation.)
- Once done, remove from oven, and allow to cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet, then transfer to wire racks to finish cooling.
- Continue rolling and baking cookies, 1 small portion of dough at a time, generously coating your cutting board and rolling pin with Flour as you go, until all of the dough has been used up.
- Once cookies have cooled completely, pipe on eyes, smiles, buttons, etc. with Royal Icing or Cream Cheese Frosting.
- Prep Ahead Tip: Dough can be made ahead of time and stored up to 3 days in the refrigerator prior to baking.
- Storage Tip: These cookies will last well at room temperature, stored covered, for up to 1 week. If using cream cheese icing, I like to pipe and frost just before serving.
- Freezer Tip: Baked gingerbread cookies that have not yet been frosted can be frozen in a freezer safe container or freezer bag up to 1 month. If stacking cookies in the container, flash freeze cookies first, then place a sheet of parchment paper between each layer.
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wonderful cook says
These gingerbread cookies look so adorable and tasty. Definitely gonna try this recipe this Christmas!! Thank you Heidi.
Heidi says
Aww… thank you! Enjoy your gingerbread man cookies!
Adriana Leandro says
Gingerbread man cookies are so cute.
Thanks for sharing your recipe.
Kisses!
Heidi says
You’re very welcome, Adriana! They really are the cutest little treat!
CoCo says
Goodbye pumpkin spice season, hello gingerbread season,, Heidi! These look so good. I can’t wait to try your recipe. They will be perfect for road tripping this Thanksgiving. Hugs, CoCo
Heidi says
Ooh yes… these would definitely be the perfect addition to a Thanksgiving roadtrip! Have fun baking your little Gingerbread men, CoCo! 🙂
Rainbow Evening says
gingerbread is lovely cookies when I was kid….
thank you for sharing recipe
Heidi says
You’re very welcome! They really do bring back such sweet memories from the past!
Lisa's Notebook says
Oh my goodness, this is making me so hungry! We all LOVE gingerbread men (and turning them upside down to make reindeer), thank you, Heidi!
Heidi says
I absolutely love your idea for turning these little men upside down and decorating them as reindeer. That’s brilliant! 🙂
Lovely says
These are “must-haves” for our Christmas baking list. Thanks for the recipe.
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
Heidi says
You’re very welcome, Lovely! They really are a Christmas classic! 🙂
Healthy World Cuisine says
Gingerbread are our favorite holiday cookie. Especially, when they are soft and chewy- hard to resist. Got this recipe bookmarked for the baking season.
Heidi says
That’s wonderful… have FUN baking!! 🙂
Kathrine Eldridge says
I love gingerbread cookies! These look so tasty and cute. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Heidi says
You’re very welcome, Kathrine!
Carol says
Nothing says the holiday season is here more than gingerbread men!
Heidi says
I agree, Carol… these little guys are classic nostalgia at its best!
somewhereinireland says
Gingerbread cookies are delicious. I love them. 🙂
Heidi says
Haha – I completely agree… they really are SO sublime!!
Her Digital Coffee says
I love soft gingerbread cookies! I’m definitely bookmarking this recipe. I can’t wait to do some baking this holiday season. Thank you for the yummy and easy recipe Heidi!
Heidi says
You’re very welcome… I hope you love them!!
delphine says
Toutes ces gourmandises me font très envie
Bises
Heidi says
Merci beaucoup, Delphine. 🙂 Bises
Tasia says
You decorated your gingerbread men cookies so cute!! Gingerbread is likely my favorite flavor of the Christmas season. Love how this dough can be made ahead of time.
Heidi says
You’re so sweet – thanks, Tasia! And I agree… and way to prep ahead with Christmas cookies is a winner! 🙂
Veronica Lee says
Christmas isn’t Christmas without gingerbread men cookies!
Pinned!
What do you think of these? https://www.instagram.com/p/Bb6luY6jVIG/
Heidi says
Thanks so much, Veronica… and those are adorable!