These classic gingerbread man cookies look so joyful alongside our Cranberry Cookies, Chocolate Crinkle Cookies, Baklava, and Christmas Coconut Balls on the dessert table served with Hot Chocolate and coffee. Can’t you just picture it! This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
Gingerbread Cookie Recipe
Similar to our Christmas Sugar Cookies, these gingerbread cookies are simple to make and easy to decorate, while still chewy and truly delightful to eat. This recipe was inspired by the delicious Gingerbread Cookie recipe in the Bon Appetit Cookbook by Barbara Fairchild. They are so simple to decorate with our easy gingerbread cookie icing recipe (included below) using only three pantry staples (no meringue powder!), but you can easily use store-bought icing to save a minute or two.
Gingerbread Cookies Video
See Natasha make this chewy, buttery, delicious gingerbread cookie recipe using simple ingredients. You’ll love to make this your family’s holiday tradition!
Here’s why you’ll adore this recipe
EASY – Simple, fool-proof directions and made with pantry staples Delicious – Perfectly spiced and buttery cookies Great texture – A soft, chewy texture that gets softer over time A fun tradition to share with kids and adults alike The best homemade icing – it hardens perfectly, so the finished cookies are easy to store
Ingredients for Gingerbread Cookies
The best gingerbread cookies are made with ingredients you probably already have in the pantry.
Flour – we recommend unbleached all-purpose flour for a deeper color and stronger texture Ground ginger, cinnamon, and cloves – the perfect combination of spices for classic gingerbread Baking soda – helps the cookie rise slightly for that chewy texture Sea salt – brings out the flavors of the gingerbread spices Butter – room temperature and unsalted so it easily mixes in Brown sugar – light brown sugar gives a nice balance since we’ll be adding more molasses Molasses – gives a caramel-like depth of flavor and that gingerbread chewy texture Egg – room temperature to help with getting a light dough
For Gingerbread Cookie Icing
Powdered Sugar – Sweetens and thickens the icing Milk – makes the icing creamy Vanilla extract – flavors the icing perfectly Sprinkles in a variety of holiday colors and shapes to decorate
How to Make Gingerbread Cookies
Make these classic gingerbread men cookies in just these few easy-to-follow steps:
Sift dry ingredients (flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, cloves, and salt) into a medium bowl. Using a fine mesh sieve to sift helps eliminate clumps. Beat wet ingredients (butter, sugar, and molasses) in the bowl of a stand mixer or using an electric hand mixer on medium/high speed for about 2-3 minutes or until light and fluffy. Add the egg to the wet ingredients and beat for 1 minute until incorporated. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Then, beat on medium speed until combined and the dough is soft. Transfer the dough from the bowl to a well-floured surface. If it’s too sticky, dust the top with flour, and then divide it into three pieces. Pat each piece into a disk shape, and then wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Store in the refrigerator until the dough is firm for about an hour, or up to 24 hours before baking. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees when ready to cut the cookies and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll the dough out on a well-floured surface until it is 1/4” thick, working one disk at a time (keep the rest refrigerated). Be sure to rotate the dough as you roll to prevent sticking, and then cut out shapes using 4-5-inch cookie cutters. Gather the scraps to re-roll. Place cut-out cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet about 1” apart, and bake for 9-10 minutes or until the edges start to brown, then move cookies to cooling racks. Repeat rolling and baking the remaining dough.
How to make Gingerbread Man Cookie Icing:
Stir the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract together in a medium bowl. Thicken by adding more powdered sugar, or thin by adding more milk. Then pour it into a piping bag. If you prefer, you can use store-bought pre-made cookie icing.
How to Decorate Gingerbread Man Cookies
It’s easy to decorate this gingerbread cookie recipe using the icing recipe for the holidays. You could even host a gingerbread cookie decorating party. Here are a few ideas:
Rimmed paper plates – place a cookie on each plate to catch all the mess Icing – After mixing the icing, fill small zip-top bags or piping bags with icing. You can even add a few drops of food coloring. Powdered Sugar – As a quick alternative, dust the top of the cookie with confectioner sugar Decorations – sprinkle and place red hot candies, sprinkles, colored sugar, or nonpareils to the icing. Don’t forget the gumdrop buttons! Let them Set – Allow the decorated cookies to dry completely before stacking.
Our classic gingerbread cookie recipe is the perfect way to celebrate the holidays. In fact, we’re positive these buttery, spiced cookies will quickly become your favorite family tradition. To store the dough:
To Refrigerate: Wrap tightly in plastic wrap for up to 24 hours Freezing: Place wrapped dough in freezer zip-top bag for 3 months Defrost: in the refrigerator overnight
To store baked cookies:
To Store: stack between sheets of wax paper in an airtight container for a week Freezing: put the container in the freezer for 3 months. To Defrost: thaw on the counter
More Holiday Dessert Recipes
If you love this gingerbread man cookie recipe, then check out these other delicious holiday dessert favorites.
Thumbprint Cookies Almond Snowball Cookies Pecan Bars Candied Pecans Cranberry Bread Russian Tea Cakes Red Velvet Cake Recipe
