Description
Delightful gingerbread men cookies that stay soft and chewy, making them easy to decorate and perfect for sharing during the holidays.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Cookie Dough
- 3 cups all-purpose flour (Provides structure and stability.)
- 3/4 cup butter, softened (Adds flavor and tenderness.)
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed (Contributes chewiness and a cozy caramel note.)
- 1/2 cup molasses (Provides moisture and classic gingerbread flavor.)
- 1 egg (Binds the dough together.)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda (Helps cookies puff without spreading too much.)
- 1 teaspoon salt (Enhances the flavor of spices.)
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger (Main spice for gingerbread flavor.)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (Adds warmth and sweetness.)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves (Provides depth of flavor.)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (Optional, adds a subtle spice note.)
For the Royal Icing
- 2 cups powdered sugar (Main ingredient for icing.)
- 1 tablespoon meringue powder (For stability in icing.)
- 3-4 tablespoons water (To mix for desired consistency.)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (Optional, for flavor.)
Instructions
Mixing the Dough
- Cream the softened butter and brown sugar until smooth and fluffy.
- Mix in the egg and then the molasses until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and spices.
- Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet mixture, mixing until the dough comes together.
Chilling and Rolling
- Chill the dough for at least 2 hours, or overnight for best results.
- Roll the chilled dough between two pieces of parchment paper to about 1/4 inch thick.
- Cut out shapes using cookie cutters and transfer them to a baking tray.
- Chill the cut shapes for 10 minutes before baking to prevent spreading.
Baking the Cookies
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes until the edges are set.
- Let cookies cool on the baking tray for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
Decorating
- Prepare the royal icing by mixing powdered sugar, meringue powder, and water until thick and glossy.
- Decorate cookies as desired once they are completely cooled.
Notes
To keep cookies soft, store in an airtight container with a slice of sandwich bread. For freezing, wrap tightly or freeze baked cookies for later decoration. Reroll dough scraps a maximum of two times to avoid toughness.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Snack
- Cuisine: American, Baking
Nutrition
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 100
- Fat: 5
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Protein: 1
