No Christmas is complete without an elusive Gingerbread Man running around! That’s why these easy Gingerbread Men Cookies are the perfect classic, old-fashioned treat! They’re soft and chewy, sweet and spicy, and so simple to make! Just keep a close eye on them, because they have the tendency to take off running!
Gingerbread Men Cookies
With Christmas just around the corner, this gingerbread men cookies recipe is just what your holiday season needs!
You’ll get festive cookies that deliver big flavor and pure nostalgia… with each and every bite!
Lisa writes: “I love these gingerbread cookies – family favorite”
Just beware. These soft gingerbread cookies are a temptation that no one in my home can ever resist.
They seem to magically disappear whenever I look away!
Sometimes I can blame my family, but other times it’s a different story. Let’s just say I can’t always be trusted around these tempting little guys either!
Of course, the alluring quality of these cute little cookies is exactly why you need to make them for yourself.
Plus, you’ll love how versatile these scrumdiddlyumptious cookies are!
You can finish off your custom gingerbread men cookies with icing or Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting… or you can go next level and let your creativity go wild.
Your imagination really is the limit. You can decorate gingerbread men with white or colored icing, cream cheese frosting, powdered sugar, mini M&M’s, and so much more!
Christmas recipes really don’t get much better than this.
Of course the most important thing to remember whenever baking cookies at Christmastime… is that you ALWAYS want bake as many Christmas cookies for decorating as possible! That’s why you definitely need to make these adorable Christmas Reindeer Cookies, these festive Confetti Cake Mix Cookies, and these wildly delicious Sugar Cookies for Cut Outs!
Now are you ready to get baking?
Here’s what you’ll need to make the best ever chewy gingerbread cookies…
Gingerbread Man Cookies Ingredients
So what are gingerbread man cookies made of?
Well, to make the best gingerbread men cookies recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients on hand to make your gingerbread man cookie mix…
- Unsalted Butter
- Brown Sugar
- Granulated (White) Sugar
- Large Eggs
- Vanilla Extract
- Molasses – do NOT use blackstrap molasses.
- All Purpose Flour
- Ground Ginger
- Ground Cinnamon
- Allspice
- Ground Cloves
- Salt
- Baking Soda
Just add these ingredients to your grocery list so you can score some Sam’s Club deals this week.
Should Gingerbread Cookies Be Soft or Hard?
When it comes to the texture of gingerbread man cookies, it really all comes down to personal preference.
Some like gingerbread spice 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 cookies.
Trust me… you’re going to LOVE them!
Storage Tips
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.
If you happen to have any cookies leftover, this easy gingerbread man cookies recipes creates the ideal cookie exchange cookies or festive gingerbread cookies gift.
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Pin ItHow To Make Gingerbread Men 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 gingerbread cookies 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.
Now comes the fun part… grabbing that first cookie and DEVOURING it!
Trust me, if you want a stress-free Christmas, easy Christmas holiday dessert recipes like this are a great place to start!
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 men cookies recipe…
Kim writes: “I love them!”
Erika writes: “Amazing and delicious cookies”
Rebecca writes: “My absolute favorite.”
Betty writes: “Delicious”
Emily writes: “So festive and cute”
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
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
- Gather your ingredients.
- 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 in the refrigerator until needed.)
- 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 Whipped 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.
Notes
- For answers to Frequently Asked Questions or tips for common substitutions and variations, please refer to the detailed information above this recipe card.
Like this recipe? Rate & comment below!
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!
I absolutely love your idea for turning these little men upside down and decorating them as reindeer. That’s brilliant! 🙂
These are “must-haves” for our Christmas baking list. Thanks for the recipe.
xoxo
Lovely
You’re very welcome, Lovely! They really are a Christmas classic! 🙂
Gingerbread are our favorite holiday cookie. Especially, when they are soft and chewy- hard to resist. Got this recipe bookmarked for the baking season.
That’s wonderful… have FUN baking!! 🙂
I love gingerbread cookies! These look so tasty and cute. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
You’re very welcome, Kathrine!
Nothing says the holiday season is here more than gingerbread men!
I agree, Carol… these little guys are classic nostalgia at its best!
Gingerbread cookies are delicious. I love them. 🙂
Haha – I completely agree… they really are SO sublime!!
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!
You’re very welcome… I hope you love them!!
Toutes ces gourmandises me font très envie
Bises
Merci beaucoup, Delphine. 🙂 Bises
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.
You’re so sweet – thanks, Tasia! And I agree… and way to prep ahead with Christmas cookies is a winner! 🙂
Christmas isn’t Christmas without gingerbread men cookies!
Pinned!
What do you think of these? https://www.instagram.com/p/Bb6luY6jVIG/
Thanks so much, Veronica… and those are adorable!