Gingerbread Man Cookies
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These charming gingerbread man cookies bring the sweet aroma of gingerbread wafting through the kitchen. With warm spices, rich molasses, and a hint of vanilla, these Christmas cookies deliver the magic of the season and holiday joy in every bite. They’re irresistible!
🤶🏻 Who Was the Gingerbread Man?
In the classic folktale, an old woman cut out a gingerbread man from cookie dough and baked him. When she opened the oven door, he jumped out and ran away. Passing people and animals as he ran, he taunted them with a song: “Run, run, as fast as you can! You can’t catch me. I’m the Gingerbread Man!” The cookie felt invincible, until he was outsmarted by a fox.
🎅🏼 Why this Recipe’s a Keeper
- Tradition and Nostalgia: Gingerbread cookies are associated with holiday traditions and childhood memories. This recipe evokes nostalgic feelings while contributing to a festive atmosphere, a sense of Christmas warmth and coziness, and holiday spirit.
- Easy to Make: This simple recipe is straightforward and easy to follow with clear instructions and manageable steps. It’s a favorite recipe that family and friends turn to year after year.
- Taste and Texture: A recipe that’s a keeper consistently produces delicious results. The combination of warm spices in these gingerbread cookies creates a unique and satisfying flavor. The slightly crisp outside with a tender bite is delightful.
- Versatility: This recipe can be used to make traditional gingerbread men, as well as other shapes like gingerbread houses, stars or hearts.
- We hear these cookies are Santa’s favorite! On Christmas Eve, leave them out on a plate for Santa. He’ll usually save a few for enjoying with Mrs Claus, and share the rest with his hard-working reindeer.
🛒 Ingredients
This easy recipe makes the best gingerbread cookies! Below are the ingredients you’ll need for the cookie dough and the royal icing recipe.
For Cookie Dough
- Butter: Adds richness and a buttery flavor. It contributes to the cookie’s texture.
- Dark Brown Sugar: Sweetens the cookies and provides moisture, contributing to a soft texture.
- Molasses: Imparts a deep, rich flavor and helps keep the cookies moist.
- Large Eggs: Act as a binder, contributing to the structure and texture of the cookies.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the flavor of the butter and sugar while providing a delicious bakery aroma.
- Cornstarch: Is used to create a tender, delicate texture so the gingerbread man cookies are not dense. It helps produce cookies that are softer and more melt-in-your-mouth.
- Kosher Salt: Balances the sweetness of the dough while enhancing the overall flavor.
- Ground Ginger: Imparts the signature spicy and warm flavor to the cookies.
- Ground Cinnamon: Adds a sweet flavor and holiday aroma.
- Ground Nutmeg: Adds a warm and slightly sweet flavor to the gingerbread cookies.
- Ground Cloves: Enhances the spiciness and depth of flavor.
- All-Purpose Flour: Provides strength and structure, and helps give cookies their shape.
For Royal Icing
- Egg Whites: Act as a binder to bring the icing together. They provide the stability needed for the icing to set and harden.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds a delicious bakery flavor and aroma.
- Powdered Sugar (confectioners sugar): Provides sweetness and structure. The fine texture of powdered sugar helps create a smooth consistency for the icing.
📖 Recipe Steps
Assemble Dough & Cut Out Cookies
RECIPE PREP: Preheat oven to 350° F. Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until fully combined.
- Add eggs, molasses and vanilla. Beat until combined. Add cornstarch, salt and spices. Blend well. Add flour. Mix until fully incorporated.
- Divide dough in half. Shape into two disks. Wrap each disk in waxed paper or plastic wrap. Chill dough in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes, or refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.
- Remove the cookie dough from the freezer. Put one disk in the fridge to keep it chilled, and work with the other one. Roll out the stiff ball of cookie dough to a thickness of just under 1/4 inch. Use a Gingerbread Man cookie cutter to cut out shapes.
Bake Cookies & Make Royal Icing
- Transfer gingerbread man cookies to a lined cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes. They’re done when the edges are firm to the touch, and the centers are still lightly tender.
- Gather the ingredients to make royal icing: eggs, vanilla extract and powdered sugar.
- Separate the eggs, discarding the yolks. In the bowl of a stand mixer with whip attachment, whip the egg whites and vanilla until frothy. Beat on low speed until mixture is shiny. Beat on high speed for 6-7 minutes, or until icing is stiff and glossy.
- Transfer royal icing to a pastry bag fitted with a Wilton #3 decorating tip. Outline each cookie along the edges. Add eyes, a smile, and a set of 3 buttons down the middle.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tips
- The secret for gingerbread men that keep their shape: Keeping the dough chilled. It’s important to chill the dough for 1 to 2 hours in the fridge, or 15 to 20 minutes in the freezer before rolling it out. If while prepping the cookies for baking, the dough becomes soft and overly pliable, return the dough to the freezer for 10 minutes. When time allows, place the tray of Gingerbread man cut-outs into the freezer for 10 minutes before baking.
- Keep edges of the cookie cutter clean: For perfectly sharp cookie cut-outs, keep the cookie cutter clean. After cutting out each cookie, briefly dip the edges of the cookie cutter into flour, shaking off excess. Another method is lightly spraying the cookie cutter with cooking spray.
- Let cookie cool completely after baking. Before applying royal icing, make sure the gingerbread men are completely cool. After the icing has been applied, allow the icing to harden before stacking the cookies.
- Decorating ideas for gingerbread men: In addition to royal icing, make buttons with small pieces of peppermint stick, button candies, or mini M&Ms. Use mini chocolate chips for the eyes. Add red gel food coloring to some of the royal icing and use it to make mouths. Sprinkle edible glitter or shredded coconut around the edge of the cookies over the icing.
🧑🏼🍳 Recipe FAQ
These are the most commonly-asked questions about gingerbread man cookies, and the most helpful answers for recipe success.
While molasses contributes to the distinctive flavor and texture of gingerbread, you can use dark corn syrup or honey instead. But keep in mind, this will slightly alter the taste.
It’s crucial to chill the dough for at least 1 to 2 hours in the fridge (or 15 to 20 minutes in the freezer) to allow it to firm up. This helps with easier handling of the dough and prevents excessive spreading during baking.
Ensure your dough is well-chilled before rolling. Additionally, avoid over-mixing the dough, and use a light touch when rolling it out to maintain the desired thickness.
Yes, you can freeze gingerbread cookie dough for up to 3 months. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and place it in a zip-top freezer bag or in a sealed container. Thaw the dough in the refrigerator before using.
Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. For longer storage, freeze the cookies (undecorated) and thaw before decorating.
Be cautious with the baking time. Overbaking can result in hard cookies. Aim for a slightly softer texture by removing them from the oven when the edges are set but the centers are still slightly soft.
🎄More Holiday Treats
- Christmas Donuts
- Gingerbread Cupcakes
- Grinch Fudge
- Christmas Hot Chocolate Bombs
- Christmas Shortbread Cookies
- Linzer Sugar Cookies
- Ginger Snap Cookies
Rate This Recipe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Flavor testers rated these the BEST Gingerbread man cookies. From the ease of making the recipe, to the holiday taste and delightful texture, they said these were bakery-quality treats.
If you agree this recipe’s a keeper, give it a 5-star rating in the comments. Then be a recipe hero. Share it with friends. 📌 Pin it to Pinterest.
Gingerbread Man Cookies
- Total Time: 1 Hour
- Yield: 24 Gingerbread Men 1x
Description
This bakery recipe produces beautifully-shaped gingerbread men! Our royal icing recipe firms up nicely, allowing the cookies to be stacked. These gingerbread man cookies are a childhood favorite!
Ingredients
COOKIE DOUGH
- 1 cup butter (2 sticks), softened
- 2 cups dark brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1/3 cup molasses
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 5 cups all-purpose flour
ROYAL ICING
- 3 egg whites
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 cups powdered sugar (confectioners sugar)
Instructions
COOKIE DOUGH
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until fully combined. Add eggs, molasses and vanilla. Beat until combined. Add cornstarch, salt and spices. Blend well. Add flour. Mix until fully incorporated.
- Divide dough in half. Shape into two disks. Wrap each disk in waxed paper or plastic wrap. Chill dough in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes, or refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.
- Remove the 2 disks of dough from freezer. Place 1 disk in the refrigerator. Preheat oven to 350° F. Line 3 cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
- Working with the first disk, roll out dough to a thickness of just under 1/4 inch. Cut out cookies with a 5-inch gingerbread man cookie cutter. Place cookies on lined baking sheets. If at any time the dough becomes too soft to handle, wrap it in plastic and stick it back in the freezer for 10 minutes. Remove second disk from refrigerator. Repeat rolling and cookie cutting process.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes. Cookies are done when edges are dry to the touch and centers are a bit softer. Allow gingerbread men to cool on the baking tray for 6-8 minutes. Transfer to cooling racks. Once completely cooled, decorate gingerbread cookies with royal icing.
ROYAL ICING
While the cookies are baking and cooling, prep the royal icing! This recipe makes enough icing to decorate a double batch of cookies.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat egg whites and vanilla until frothy.
- Add powdered sugar. Beat on low speed until mixture is shiny. Beat on high speed for 6-7 minutes, or until icing is stiff and glossy.
- Transfer royal icing to a pastry bag fitted with a small round decorating tip. I use a Wilton #3 for decorating gingerbread man cookies.
Notes
How to prevent the cookies from becoming too hard: Be cautious with the baking time. Overbaking can result in hard cookies. Aim for a slightly softer texture by removing them from the oven when the edges are set but the centers are still slightly soft.
Decorating ideas for gingerbread men: In addition to royal icing, make buttons with small pieces of peppermint stick, button candies, or mini M&Ms. Use mini chocolate chips for the eyes. Add red gel food coloring to some of the royal icing and use it to make mouths. Sprinkle edible glitter or shredded coconut around the edge of the cookies over the icing.
How to store the cookies: Store the gingerbread men in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. For longer storage, freeze the cookies (undecorated) and thaw before decorating.
- Prep Time: 35 Minutes
- Chill Time: 15 Minutes
- Cook Time: 10 Minutes
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: German
Gingerbread Man Cookies 👉🏻Join the Convo
Do you have special holiday memories surrounding gingerbread man cookies? Share your thoughts about this recipe in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you!
Wow, gingerbread man cookies were my favorite growing up as a kid. We would always make them to leave for Santa. Of course we would enjoy a few along the way too. This recipe makes me very nostalgic for my childhood and I can’t wait to try it.
I love these! There is NOTHING better than classic gingerbread man cookies in December! :D
These are so cute; wouldn’t be Christmas without a gingerbread man! My kids will love to bake these this weekend!
I’ve been looking for a cookie project to make with the kids, and this seems like the perfect fit!
These cookies have the best ginger flavor! So fun to decorate during the holidays!
These might the cutest Gingerbread man cookies I’ve ever seen! I’m so excited to try this recipe and thanks for the SUPER easy royal icing!!!!
LOVE this recipe! I have tried making gingerbread so many times before and failed, but not with this recipe. It’s perfection! Thanks so much for sharing :)
These came out looking so good! Perfect for a holiday snack or maybe the tree.
These cookies are too cute!!! I must make them for our holiday party – the kids will devour them!
These are so cute. A must bake at this time of year.
Awesome recipe, these cookies are delicious! The photos are so helpful too.