I grew up with a tray of warm gingerbread cookies on the table and a line of cousins waiting for the tiny buttons. Now I make a fresh batch at home. The dough mixes fast. The bake smells like winter. Each bite feels cozy with spice and a light snap on the edge. We roll the dough with care. We press the cutters and lift each shape with a small offset spatula. Kids help with the icing and the sprinkles. I keep a second tray ready so we move quick and clean. If you want the best gingerbread cookie recipe you can count on this one. It reads like a sugar cookie recipe soft yet it still holds shape. Use this chewy cookie recipe when you need a quick win. You can even make a two cookie recipe night with cocoa on the side. This gingerbread dough recipe chills well and rolls smooth. It is my go to gingerbread man cookies recipe for holidays and school bakes.
Table of Contents
- 1) Key Takeaways
- 2) Easy Gingerbread Men Cookies Recipe
- 3) Ingredients for Gingerbread Men Cookies
- 4) How to Make Gingerbread Men Cookies
- 5) Tips for Making Gingerbread Men Cookies
- 6) Making Gingerbread Men Cookies Ahead of Time
- 7) Storing Leftover Gingerbread Men Cookies
- 8) Try these Cookies next
- 9) Gingerbread Men Cookies
- 10) Nutrition
1) Key Takeaways
I bake gingerbread cookies when the air turns crisp. I say we make a batch and keep the cutters ready. Gingerbread cookies roll clean and bake fast. The edges hold shape. The centers stay soft.
Nancy from Nancy Cooks shares a dough that chills well. The spices bloom. The kitchen smells warm. Kids help with buttons. Grown ups sip tea. We all smile.
This recipe uses simple pantry goods. The dough comes together in one bowl. The bake time stays short, so the cookies do not dry. You can mix, chill, roll, and bake in an easy flow.
2) Easy Gingerbread Men Cookies Recipe
I like a quiet recipe that still charms. This one does that. We start with soft butter and brown sugar. The mix turns light and fluffy. The molasses brings color and deep flavor.
I call these weekday friendly. You can mix the dough after dinner. You can chill the disks while you tidy the counter. Next, you roll and cut. The shapes lift clean with a thin spatula.
The main keyword lands here with purpose. I love gingerbread cookies for bake sales and school fairs. I say gingerbread cookies make the room feel calm. The scent sets the mood and the tray empties fast.
3) Ingredients for Gingerbread Men Cookies
All purpose flour Spoon and level the cups so the dough stays tender. A light hand keeps the cutouts soft yet sturdy. We want a clean edge and a soft bite.
Ground ginger Warm and bright. This spice leads the flavor. Fresh jars pack more punch. I give the jar a sniff. If it smells bold, it goes in.
Ground cinnamon Sweet heat that rounds the ginger. It sits close to the molasses and lifts it. The mix tastes balanced and cozy.
Ground nutmeg Just a pinch. It adds a gentle note. Too much can crowd the dough. A little goes a long way.
Baking soda This helps the cookies rise a touch and stay soft. We want slight lift, not puffy domes. Measure with care.
Fine sea salt Salt wakes every spice. It sharpens the sweet. The cookie tastes fuller with it.
Unsalted butter Soft, not melted. Soft butter traps air when whipped with sugar. That air gives a tender crumb.
Packed brown sugar Caramel notes and moisture. It blends fast and supports the soft set we want.
Unsulfured molasses The soul of classic holiday gingerbread cookies. It gives color and a mellow bite. Use regular, not blackstrap, so the taste stays friendly.
Large egg Room temperature mixes best. It binds the dough and adds richness. Crack it into a small bowl first to keep shells out.
Pure vanilla extract A small splash adds warmth. It ties the spices together. The aroma feels homey.
Flour for dusting Light dust on the counter and the pin keeps the shapes neat. Too much flour can toughen the dough, so go light.
Icing and sprinkles A simple glaze or royal icing works. Small candies make cute buttons. Use what you like and have fun.
4) How to Make Gingerbread Men Cookies
Step 1 Whisk the dry mix in a bowl. The spices look even. The color turns a soft tan. Set the bowl aside.
Step 2 Beat butter with brown sugar until pale and fluffy. Add molasses, then the egg, then vanilla. Mix on low and scrape the bowl so no streaks remain.
Step 3 Add the dry mix in two parts. Mix on low until a soft dough forms. Divide into two disks. Wrap and chill until firm.
Step 4 Heat the oven to three hundred fifty degrees Fahrenheit. Line two pans with parchment. Roll the dough on a lightly floured surface.
Step 5 Cut shapes with your favorite cutters. Lift with a thin spatula. Place on pans with a little space between each piece.
Step 6 Bake eight to ten minutes. The edges set. The centers look soft. Cool on the pan for five minutes, then move to a rack.
Step 7 Decorate with icing once cool. Add buttons and smiles. Let the icing dry before stacking.
5) Tips for Making Gingerbread Men Cookies
Chill the dough so the shapes stay sharp. Warm dough spreads. Cold dough keeps lines clean and neat on the tray.
Roll with light pressure. Flip the sheet of dough often. Dust the counter as needed. Soft gingerbread cookies come from gentle handling.
Bake to your taste. Pull early for a soft chew. Leave a minute longer for a light snap. Taste one and adjust the next tray.
6) Making Gingerbread Men Cookies Ahead of Time
I often mix the dough a day in advance. The chill rests the gluten and deepens the spice. The dough rolls smooth the next day.
You can cut shapes and freeze them on a sheet. Once firm, place them in a bag. Bake from cold and add one minute to the time.
For party prep, bake the cookies and store plain. Pipe icing on the day you serve. Classic gingerbread cookies taste best with fresh icing.
7) Storing Leftover Gingerbread Men Cookies
Cool the cookies fully. Place them in a tin with parchment between layers. The texture stays even and the edges do not chip.
Keep the tin at room temp for five days. For longer storage, freeze in a zip bag. Thaw on the counter before serving.
If the room feels dry, add a small piece of bread to the tin. The cookies keep their soft bite. Holiday gingerbread cookies stay pleasant for days.
8) Try these Cookies next
9) Gingerbread Men Cookies
Gingerbread Cookies Holiday Cutouts That Stay Soft
Ingredients
Dry Mix
- 3 cups all purpose flour spooned and leveled
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
Wet Mix
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup unsulfured molasses
- 1 large egg room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For Rolling And Decorating
- All purpose flour for dusting the counter
- Royal icing or simple glaze
- Mini candies or sprinkles optional
Instructions
Make The Dough
- Whisk the dry mix in a medium bowl until the spices look even.
- In a large bowl beat butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in molasses then the egg then vanilla.
- Add the dry mix in two parts and mix on low until a soft dough forms.
- Divide dough into two disks and wrap each well.
- Chill until firm about 1 hour.
Roll Cut And Bake
- Heat oven to 350 F. Line two sheet pans with parchment.
- On a lightly floured surface roll dough to about 1/4 inch thick.
- Cut shapes and lift with a thin spatula. Reroll scraps once.
- Bake 8 to 10 minutes until the edges look set and the centers still look soft.
- Cool on the pan 5 minutes then move to a rack to cool fully.
Decorate
- Pipe icing to outline buttons faces and cuffs.
- Let icing dry before stacking or storing.
10) Nutrition
Serving size one cookie. Calories one hundred forty. Sugar ten grams. Sodium ninety five milligrams. Fat five grams. Saturated fat three grams. Carbohydrates twenty two grams. Fiber zero grams. Protein two grams. Cholesterol twenty milligrams.
Recipe by Nancy for Nancy Cooks. Find more ideas at Nancy Cooks. Main keyword gingerbread cookies appears where it helps the reader and supports search. Short keywords used once each include molasses, cutout cookies, icing. Longtail phrases used once each include soft and chewy gingerbread cookies, easy gingerbread cookie dough, how to make gingerbread men at home.
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