Description
These classic Christmas Gingerbread Man Cookies are perfectly spiced, soft, and decorated with sweet vanilla icing. They are an ideal holiday treat to bake and decorate with family and friends, bringing festive cheer to your kitchen. The molasses-based dough is enriched with warm spices like ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, then rolled out and cut into cute gingerbread men shapes before baking to a tender perfection. The cookies are finished with a smooth, pipeable icing for charming decorations.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Gingerbread Dough:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed
- 1 tbsp ground ginger
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup molasses
- 2 tbsp milk
For the Icing:
- 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 2-3 tbsp milk or water
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, salt, and baking soda to ensure the spices and leavening are evenly distributed. In a separate bowl, use an electric mixer to cream together the softened unsalted butter, dark brown sugar, and molasses until the mixture is smooth and well combined. Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, alternating with the milk, mixing continuously until the dough forms a consistent and manageable texture. Divide the dough into two halves, wrap each half in plastic wrap, and chill them in the refrigerator for at least two hours or overnight to firm up the dough and allow the flavors to develop.
- Roll and Cut the Cookies: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion of chilled dough to an even thickness of about 1/4 inch. Use gingerbread man cookie cutters to cut out shapes from the dough and carefully transfer each shape to the prepared baking sheets, spacing them evenly to allow for slight spreading. Repeat this process with the remaining dough.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake the gingerbread men in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just starting to turn a light golden brown, indicating they are cooked through but still tender inside. Remove the baking sheets from the oven and let the cookies cool on the sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely, ensuring a soft texture and easy decorating.
- Decorate with Icing: To make the icing, combine sifted powdered sugar with milk or water and vanilla extract, stirring until the icing reaches a thick yet pipeable consistency. Fill a piping bag fitted with a small round tip with the prepared icing and use it to decorate the cooled gingerbread men as desired, adding festive details. Allow the icing to set for about 30 minutes before serving to let it harden slightly for the best presentation and texture.
Notes
- Chilling the dough is essential for easier handling and better cookie shape retention during baking.
- Use parchment paper on baking sheets to prevent sticking and promote even baking.
- Adjust the thickness of the icing by adding more powdered sugar or liquid to achieve the desired piping consistency.
- Store decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- For a stronger ginger flavor, consider adding a pinch of freshly grated ginger.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie (approx. 35g)
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
