These Gingerbread Men Cookies are the ultimate Christmas cookies! This recipe yields soft, yet firm gingerbread cookies that are perfectly spiced, buttery, and hold their shape beautifully.

Christmas cookie season is here, and I can’t think of a cookie that’s more festive than gingerbread men.

With their adorable icing faces and candy bowties and buttons, they’re almost always the cutest cookies on the tray–but they’re not always the most tasty. Many recipes call for loads of flour to make the very sticky dough (a byproduct of using molasses) more manageable, but this often leads to dull, dry cookies that just don’t taste great.

While my recipe takes a little bit more patience, I simply chill my dough for a few hours, which guarantees gingerbread men that are easy to make and flavorful.

TO MAKE GINGERBREAD MEN COOKIES, YOU WILL NEED

3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
¼ tsp salt
¾ cup butter, softened
¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar
½ cup molasses
1 egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

HOW DO YOU MAKE GINGERBREAD MEN COOKIES?

Step 1: Mix flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt in large bowl.

Step 2: Beat butter and brown sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.

Add molasses, egg, and vanilla; mix well. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed.

Step 3: Press dough into a thick, flat disk. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.

Step 4: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 5: Roll dough on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of 1/4 inch.

Cut into gingerbread men shapes with a 5-inch cookie cutter. Place gingerbread men 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets.

Step 6: Bake in the preheated oven until edges of cookies are set and just begin to brown, 8 to 10 minutes.

Cool on baking sheets for 1 to 2 minutes, then remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Step 7: Decorate cooled cookies as desired. Serve and enjoy your freshly made Gingerbread Men Cookies!

RECIPE NOTES AND HELPFUL TIPS:

This dough will be VERY sticky once you’ve mixed it all together–this is normal! To make it more manageable, chill it for several hours.

Some recipes would instead call for more flour to minimize the wait, but I don’t prefer this because it can make the cookies hard, dry, and much less flavorful. Chilling our dough allows us to let that buttery, perfectly spiced gingerbread flavor shine!

To make the icing in advance, simply store in an airtight container with a piece of plastic wrap against the surface. You can either refrigerate it or keep at room temperature, but just make sure to stir again before using.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:

Yield: 24 | Estimate the nutritional information for each serving:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs):

1. Should Gingerbread Men Cookies be hard or soft?

This is really a personal preference, but I prefer my gingerbread men to be softer with crisp, well-defined edges and chewy, melt-in-your-mouth interiors. If you like dry, crisp gingerbread cookies, this recipe may not be for you.

2. Are Gingerbread Men Cookies the same as gingersnaps?

No! Gingersnaps are typically very crisp and have a different spice profile. Gingersnaps have no nutmeg, more ginger, and less cinnamon, plus a few extra spices that differentiate them from gingerbread men.

3. Why is molasses used in Gingerbread Men Cookies?

Molasses adds flavor, color, and moisture. It’s an essential ingredient for gingerbread and gingerbread men, so don’t skip it!

4. Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the gingerbread cookie dough in advance and refrigerate it. This allows the flavors to develop, and it makes rolling and cutting the cookies easier.

5. How do I prevent the Gingerbread Men Cookies from spreading too much during baking?

Ensure the dough is properly chilled before rolling and cutting. Additionally, avoid overmixing the dough, as this can lead to excess spreading.

6. What if I don’t have cookie cutters for Gingerbread Men Cookies?

Get creative! You can use a template or freehand the shapes with a knife. Alternatively, use other holiday-themed cookie cutters for variety.

7. Can I make gingerbread cookie dough without a stand mixer?

Absolutely! You can mix the ingredients using a hand mixer or even by hand with a sturdy spatula. The dough comes together easily.

Let’s Make These Gingerbread Men Cookies!

And there you have it – these easy, yummy Gingerbread Men Cookies are ready to take their place on your table. If you decide to give it a shot, make sure to snap a photo and share it with us on Facebook and Pinterest.

Be sure to follow us for more yummy recipes in the future. Until next time, happy cooking!

The BEST Gingerbread Men Cookies

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Serves: 24 Prep Time: 20 Mins

Nutrition facts: calories fat

Rating: 5.0/5

( 1 voted )

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
¼ tsp salt
¾ cup butter, softened
¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar
½ cup molasses
1 egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions