I tried a Gingerbread Man Recipe that perfectly balances robust spices and original ingredients, with a hint of dark brown sugar and unsalted butter. Each bite beautifully blends molasses with ginger, cinnamon, and cloves in a soft, refined cookie. I now consider it irresistible. This treat always brings festive cheer.

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I recently tried a new take on my all-time favorite gingerbread man cookies that I think you’ll really enjoy. I mixed 3 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking soda, and 3/4 tsp baking powder with salt and spices like 2 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp ginger, and a pinch of cloves.

I cant tell you how satisfying it was to cream 3/4 cup of unsalted butter with 3/4 cup of dark brown sugar until it was light and fluffy. Then I added a large egg, 1/2 cup unsulfured molasses and 1 tsp vanilla extract.

This gingerbread man recipe is all about achieving that perfect consistency and just the right balance of spice carrying a hint of cookie monster fun. It might not be the conventional best gingerbread cookies of Xmas cookies out there but trust me its a pretty soft gingerbread cookies recipe worth trying.

Why I Like this Recipe

I like this recipe because it fills my kitchen with a warm, spicy smell that instantly makes me feel festive and excited for the holidays. I also really enjoy how the perfect blend of cinnamon, ginger and cloves gives these cookies a unique flavor that reminds me of cozy family traditions. Plus, I love that the dough is easy to work with even if i sometimes mess it up a little bit, it always turns out soft and buttery which is just awesome. And finally the fun part of cutting out gingerbread men using cookie cutters makes baking feel like a fun art project i can share with my friends and family.

Ingredients

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All-purpose flour supplies carbohydrates and some protein for structure, giving cookies their body.
Dark brown sugar adds rich sweetness and moisture making cookies soft and flavorful.
Unsalted butter provides creaminess and fat which tenderizes cookies and boosts flavor.
Molasses gives deep sweetness and robust flavor with a hint of tang and minerals.
Spices like ginger, cinnamon, and cloves bring warm aroma and subtle health benefits.
Baking soda and powder help cookies rise, ensuring a light and perfect texture.
Egg and vanilla extract bind ingredients, enhancing flavor and unifying the cookie mixture.
A pinch of salt amplifies the flavors, balancing sweetness and spices in cookies.

Ingredient Quantities

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground ginger

1/4 tsp ground cloves

3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

3/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed firmly

1 large egg

1/2 cup unsulfured molasses

1 tsp vanilla extract

How to Make this

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1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and line your baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. In a big bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.

3. In another bowl, beat the softened butter and dark brown sugar until smooth and fluffy.

4. Add the egg to the butter mixture and then stir in the molasses and vanilla extract.

5. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until just combined; don’t overmix or the cookies might turn out tough.

6. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let it chill in the fridge for at least an hour to make it easier for rolling.

7. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to about 1/4 inch thickness.

8. Use gingerbread men cookie cutters to cut the dough into shapes and place them onto the prepared baking sheets with enough space between them.

9. Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes until the edges are set, but the centers are still soft.

10. Remove from the oven, let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. Enjoy these perfectly spiced, buttery treats!

Equipment Needed

1. Oven (preheating is a must)
2. Baking sheets
3. Parchment paper
4. A large mixing bowl for the dry ingredients
5. A second bowl for beating the butter and sugar
6. A whisk for blending the dry mix (a fork works but a whisk is best)
7. An electric mixer or a hand whisk for a smooth butter mixture
8. Measuring cups and spoons
9. Plastic wrap to cover and chill the dough
10. A rolling pin to roll out the dough
11. Gingerbread men cookie cutters
12. A cooling rack to let the cookies set before enjoying them

FAQ

Can I substitute butter with margarine?

Yeah, you can use margarine but it might change the cookie texture and flavor a bit.

What if I don't have dark brown sugar?

You can use light brown sugar as a swap but make sure to pack it firmly to get that sticky texture.

Can I replace molasses with honey?

You may try honey, but it will affect the traditional molasses taste and may alter the cookie color slightly.

How do I store these cookies to keep them fresh?

Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature, and they should stay tasty for about a week.

Can these cookies be frozen?

Yes you can freeze them. Just be sure to wrap them well so they dont pick up any freezer odors.

Gingerbread Men Cookies Recipe Substitutions and Variations

For the all-purpose flour, you can mix half whole wheat and half all-purpose for a nuttier taste. It might make the cookies a bit denser though.
If you only have salted butter, use it but cut the salt in the recipe by a pinch or two. It’s not perfect but works fine.
No dark brown sugar? Try muscovado sugar instead. It’s similar in flavor but might be a tad richer.
Don’t have unsulfured molasses? Maple syrup is a decent swap but know that it can lighten the cookie color a bit and change the flavor slightly.
If you’re out of vanilla extract, a bit of almond extract (use half the amount) can give your cookies a unique twist.

Pro Tips

1. Make sure you chill the dough for at least an hour, because if it’s too soft, it’s a pain trying to roll it out and you might end up with all messy shapes.
2. When you mix in the dry ingredients, be careful not to overmix, cause if you do, you’ll end up with tough cookies instead of the nice soft centers you want.
3. Keep an eye on your cookies in the oven. They can go from perfect to overdone really fast so it’s best to check them a couple minutes before the time is up.
4. If your dough is sticking too much to your work surface, dust it lightly with flour, but dont go overboard or you’ll change the consistency of the cookies.

Gingerbread Men Cookies Recipe

Recipe by Tina Bueller

0.0 from 0 votes

Servings

servings

Calories

300

kcal

Equipment: 1. Oven (preheating is a must)
2. Baking sheets
3. Parchment paper
4. A large mixing bowl for the dry ingredients
5. A second bowl for beating the butter and sugar
6. A whisk for blending the dry mix (a fork works but a whisk is best)
7. An electric mixer or a hand whisk for a smooth butter mixture
8. Measuring cups and spoons
9. Plastic wrap to cover and chill the dough
10. A rolling pin to roll out the dough
11. Gingerbread men cookie cutters
12. A cooling rack to let the cookies set before enjoying them

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed firmly
1 large egg
1/2 cup unsulfured molasses
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat your oven to 350°F and line your baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a big bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.
In another bowl, beat the softened butter and dark brown sugar until smooth and fluffy.
Add the egg to the butter mixture and then stir in the molasses and vanilla extract.
Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until just combined; don't overmix or the cookies might turn out tough.
Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let it chill in the fridge for at least an hour to make it easier for rolling.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to about 1/4 inch thickness.
Use gingerbread men cookie cutters to cut the dough into shapes and place them onto the prepared baking sheets with enough space between them.
Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes until the edges are set, but the centers are still soft.
Remove from the oven, let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. Enjoy these perfectly spiced, buttery treats!

Notes

Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.