Gingerbread cookies are the very archetype of holiday baking, aromatic spices, and cute shapes. The following represents a great way to do that. There is just something so utterly and completely nostalgic about gingerbread cookies: the spice-scented air of the kitchen, the jolly shapes of gingerbread, and creative decorating that made each one an individual, tiny work of art.
These are the classic gingerbread man cookies, so much fun to make and devour. Here is all you need to get going on making these classic cookies from scratch, with a few insider tips to take them from great to amazing.
This gingerbread man cookie recipe is part of my popular collection of 50 Easy Christmas Cookies—be sure to check out the full list for more delightful holiday treats!
Why Gingerbread Cookies Are a Holiday Favorite
Gingerbread cookies have been a part of holiday tradition for centuries and were once made for good luck and to celebrate the season. There is something timeless in the cutting of those little gingerbread men and the decorating with your favorite icing designs.
To me, it’s gingerbread cookies with the family that ushers in the holiday season: flour-dusted counters, giggles over crooked cookie shapes, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves comforting the air. Every cookie has a personality all to its own, but most fun on family baking days are delightful as gifts!
Key Ingredients for Perfect Gingerbread Cookies
The Gingerbread Dough
The ideal gingerbread dough strikes a balance between cookies holding their shapes, without spreading overly much, and retaining a somewhat soft and chewy texture. Below is the ingredient breakdown that makes these cookies so deliciously distinctive.
- Flour and Butter: The structure of your cookie depends on a solid foundation of flour, while butter adds richness. Using unsalted butter lets you control the salt levels in the dough.
- Dark Brown Sugar and Molasses: Dark brown sugar enhances the depth of flavor, and molasses gives the cookie its classic dark color and robust, almost smoky flavor that defines gingerbread.
- Warm Spices: Ginger, cinnamon, and cloves are essential to the gingerbread flavor profile, filling your cookies with that cozy holiday spice.
- Baking Soda: This provides just enough lift to prevent the cookies from being too dense, ensuring a soft, slightly puffy result.
- Milk: A small addition of milk helps to bind the dough and keep it smooth, making it easier to roll out and shape.
The Icing for Decorating
The classic royal-style icing makes decorating so easy. It’s just a matter of beating together powdered sugar, milk or water, and vanilla extract until smooth. The trick is to get it thick enough to pipe but still soft enough to flow into smooth outlines and designs. The addition of vanilla extract in here gives such a hint of flavor to the cookies that really complements the spice.
Step-by-Step: Crafting Your Gingerbread Cookies
1. Mixing the Dough
For perfect dough, mix together all the dry ingredients such as flour, spices, baking soda, and salt. Using the other bowl, with the aid of an electric mixer beat in the butter with the brown sugar and the molasses until smooth and creamy.
This mix is the most important part within the mix since it gives the cookies the smoothness and well-distributed spices. After combining, mix both wet and dry mixtures together, adding milk alternately, until a combined dough forms.
This is an extremely sticky dough, but that is okay. Divide in half and, wrapping each half in plastic, refrigerate at least two hours or overnight to let firm up and meld flavors.
2. Rolling and Cutting the Dough
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line your baking sheets with parchment paper. The dough is much easier to work with once it has been chilled. On a lightly-floured surface, roll out each portion of dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Most fun of all, cut out the gingerbread men-or whatever shape you want! Place the cutouts on the prepared baking sheets, leaving room around each cookie for even baking.
3. Baking
Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until edges are set and just lightly browned, to get a crispy exterior and a chewy interior. Let them rest on the baking sheet for a few minutes after baking. Then, transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.
4. Decorating with Icing
Mix powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla together until thick but pipeable. Transfer icing to a piping bag fitted with a small round tip: great for smiles, buttons, and outlines on the gingerbread men. Allow icing to set for about 30 minutes to harden before serving.
Bonus Tips for Gingerbread Cookie Success
- Chill the Dough: Chilling is essential for easy rolling and helps the cookies maintain their shape.
- Uniform Thickness: Rolling the dough to an even thickness helps all cookies bake consistently. A rolling pin with adjustable guides can make this process easier.
- Use Parchment Paper: This not only prevents sticking but also makes transferring cookies easier.
- Choose the Right Icing Consistency: If you find your icing too runny, add a bit more powdered sugar. If it’s too thick, add a few drops of milk at a time until it reaches the desired texture.
Serving Suggestions for Your Gingerbread Cookies
These cookies are delightful on their own but can be served with a few holiday touches:
- With Hot Cocoa: Serve alongside a cup of rich, spiced hot chocolate or classic hot cocoa for a cozy winter treat.
- As Edible Ornaments: Add a small hole at the top of each cookie before baking, then string them with ribbon after they’re decorated to hang on your Christmas tree!
- Holiday Cookie Plates: Gingerbread men make a beautiful addition to a holiday cookie plate, paired with sugar cookies, shortbread, and peppermint bark.
Wrapping Up
But gingerbread cookies are not exclusively for holidays; they are a medium to memories through decoration, sharing with friends, or savoring the smell of ginger and cinnamon wafting from the home. I hope this guide will inspire you to create these classic cookies with a little of your own personal flair.
For more holiday baking inspiration, try my Peppermint Chocolate Blossom Cookies, Coconut Almond Cookies, or indulgent Cinnamon Rolls with Glaze!
Love this recipe? Pin it to your favorite holiday dessert board, and share it with friends! Let me know how your cookies turn out—I’d love to hear your creative decorating ideas!
Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe
Course: Christmas Dessert Recipes, Cookies18
servings20
minutes8
minutes300
kcalBest Christmas cookies means soft, chewy gingerbread man cookies spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and a touch of molasses. I use this gingerbread man cookie recipe every December—it holds shape for cookie decorating but stays tender after baking. These are the gingerbread man cookies recipe I go back to when I want classic holiday baking that feels fun but reliable. If you love chewy gingerbread cookies or need a ginger bread cookies recipe that won’t dry out, save this one. It’s great for cookie trays, parties, or gifting. I’ve tried many, but this is the best gingerbread cookie recipe for flavor and texture. Keep it in your list of gingerbread men cookies for your next round of man cookies or festive treats.
Ingredients
- 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
Steps
Prepare the Dough:- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, salt, and baking soda.
- In a separate bowl, use an electric mixer to blend the softened butter, brown sugar, and molasses until smooth.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, alternating with the milk, until all ingredients are combined and the dough is consistent.
- Divide the dough into two halves, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least two hours or overnight.
Roll and Cut the Cookies:- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion of the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness.
- Use cookie cutters to cut out the gingerbread men shapes and transfer them to the prepared baking sheets.
- Repeat with the remaining dough.
Bake the Cookies:- Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges just start to brown.
- Remove from oven and let cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Decorate with Icing:- Mix the powdered sugar with milk (or water) and vanilla extract to create a thick but pipeable icing.
- Fill a piping bag with the icing, and use a small round tip to decorate the gingerbread cookies as shown in your images.
- Allow the icing to set for about 30 minutes before serving.
Enjoy crafting these festive cookies, perfect for sharing with family and friends during the holiday season or any special occasion!
