Classic Gingerbread Men Cookies
These classic gingerbread men are soft, warmly spiced, and perfect for holiday decorating. Their deep molasses flavor and cheerful shape make them a festive favorite for bakers of all ages.
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour plus more for dusting
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 0.5 tsp baking powder
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 2 tsp ground ginger
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 0.25 tsp ground cloves
- 0.25 tsp ground nutmeg
- 0.75 cup unsalted butter softened at room temperature
- 0.75 cup dark brown sugar packed
- 1 large egg at room temperature
- 0.5 cup molasses not blackstrap
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Notes
Storage: Store completely cooled, undecorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. For decorated cookies with royal icing, let icing set completely (overnight is best) before stacking with parchment paper between layers. Make-Ahead: The dough discs can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months; thaw in the refrigerator before rolling. Baked, undecorated cookies freeze well for up to 3 months. Variations: For a spicier cookie, increase ginger to 1 tablespoon. For crispier cookies, roll dough thinner (1/8-inch) and bake 1-2 minutes longer.