Name: Gingerbread Men Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 1 h 23 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 cups all purpose flour properly measured; 1 tablespoon ground ginger; 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves; 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice; 3/4 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 3/4 cup unsalted butter at room temperature; 3/4 cup dark brown sugar; 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1/2 cup unsulphured molasses not blackstrap; 1 large egg at room temperature

Jump to Recipe· 4.9 from 31 reviews

If you’re anything like me, the holiday season just isn’t complete without baking a batch of classic gingerbread men. This Gingerbread Men Cookies Recipe is my personal favorite—spiced just right, perfectly crisp on the edges, and soft enough inside to satisfy any cookie craving. Whether you’re decorating with the kids or just need a delicious treat to sip alongside your morning coffee, these cookies never disappoint. Stick around because I’ll guide you through every step to help you nail these charming little treats!

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Why This Recipe Works

Balanced Spices: The mix of ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice gives a warm, inviting aroma without overwhelming the palate.
Perfect Dough Texture: Chilling the dough not only makes rolling easier but ensures crisp edges with a tender center every time.
Rich Molasses Flavor: Using unsulphured molasses adds depth and that classic gingery sweetness that defines gingerbread.
Simple Techniques: No fancy equipment is needed, making this recipe approachable for bakers of all levels.

Gingerbread Men Cookies, holiday cookie recipe, baking gingerbread cookies, festive gingerbread treats, homemade gingerbread men - The image shows several gingerbread cookies shaped like people, placed on a metal cooling rack over a white marbled texture. Each cookie is a warm brown color with a rough texture and decorated with white icing in different patterns: some have smiles, eyes, buttons, and zigzag designs on arms and legs, while others have scarves or simple outlines on the edges. The cookies are arranged in various sizes and angles across the cooling rack, creating a cozy and festive feel. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Gingerbread Men Cookies Recipe plays its part in building the perfect cookie. From the aromatic spices that bring warmth to the brown sugar that adds richness, knowing why each component is there can help you tweak the recipe to your preference.

Gingerbread Men Cookies, holiday cookie recipe, baking gingerbread cookies, festive gingerbread treats, homemade gingerbread men - Flat lay of a small mound of all purpose flour on a simple white ceramic plate, a small white bowl with ground ginger powder, a small white bowl with ground cinnamon powder, a small white bowl with ground cloves powder, a small white bowl with ground nutmeg powder, a small white bowl with ground allspice powder, a small white bowl with baking soda powder, a small white bowl with salt crystals, a few slices of unsalted butter at room temperature arranged neatly on a white ceramic dish, a small white bowl filled with dark brown sugar, a small white bowl with vanilla extract, a small white bowl with rich amber unsulphured molasses, one large whole uncracked egg with a clean shell placed beside the bowls, all ingredients evenly spaced and symmetrically arranged, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

All purpose flour: Properly measured flour ensures the right cookie texture—too much makes them dry, too little and they spread too much, so measure carefully!
Ground ginger: The star spice of gingerbread, providing that signature zing that makes these cookies unforgettable.
Ground cinnamon: Adds sweetness and depth, perfectly complementing the ginger.
Ground cloves: A little goes a long way to add a warm, slightly smoky undertone.
Ground nutmeg: This brings a subtle nutty warmth that rounds out the spice mix.
Ground allspice: Offers a blend of pepper, cinnamon, and clove flavors, enhancing complexity.
Baking soda: Helps the cookies rise just enough while keeping them tender inside.
Salt: Balances sweetness and highlights all the spices beautifully.
Unsalted butter: Using room temperature butter allows for easy creaming, which traps air to give your cookies lightness.
Dark brown sugar: Adds moisture and a deep caramel flavor that’s richer than white sugar.
Vanilla extract: Enhances all the other flavors while adding its own gentle sweetness.
Unsulphured molasses: Gives that iconic richness—avoid blackstrap for bitterness.
Large egg: Binds everything together and contributes to the cookie’s chewy texture.

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love customizing my gingerbread men depending on the occasion or mood. You’ll find these cookies are a great canvas for your creativity, whether it’s tweaking the spice blend or adding a fun decorating twist.

Spice Level Variation: Once, I bumped up the ginger and cinnamon for a little extra warmth—it’s perfect for a cozy winter day. Feel free to adjust spices to make the flavor your own.
Gluten-Free Option: By swapping all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend, I’ve still achieved great texture—just be sure the blend contains xanthan gum for binding.
Decorating Fun: Try using royal icing or melted chocolate for decorating. When I do it with my kids, it becomes as much fun eating the cookies as making them!
Molasses Swap: Using lighter molasses results in a milder flavor, which my kids prefer. I keep blackstrap molasses out of the kitchen though—it’s too bitter for my taste.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Gingerbread Men Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Whisk Your Spices and Dry Ingredients

Start by mixing together all your dry ingredients—flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, baking soda, and salt—in a large bowl. Whisking thoroughly disperses the spices evenly throughout your cookie dough, so each bite has just the right hint of flavor. I always double-check to make sure there are no lumps; smooth dry mix means smooth dough!

Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugar

In a separate bowl, use a mixer to cream your softened butter until it’s light and fluffy—about 2 to 3 minutes. Then add your dark brown sugar and vanilla extract; keep beating until your mixture looks airy and well combined. This step is essential because properly creamed butter and sugar help give the cookies a tender crumb with a slight chew.

Step 3: Incorporate Molasses and Egg

Next, beat in your molasses and egg until fully combined. The molasses is what makes these cookies taste unmistakably like gingerbread, so I never skip it. Also, be sure to use an egg at room temperature—this helps with smooth mixing and improves texture.

Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures

Add your dry mix to the wet ingredients in batches, mixing gently after each addition. I like to pause and scrape down the bowl sides with a spatula to make sure everything blends evenly. Once it starts coming together, the dough should feel soft but not sticky.

Step 5: Chill the Dough

Divide the dough into two equal parts and flatten each into discs. Then wrap tightly with plastic wrap and chill for at least an hour. Chilling is one of my favorite secrets—it firms up the dough so rolling is a breeze and prevents the cookies from spreading too much in the oven.

Step 6: Roll, Cut, and Bake

Preheat your oven to 350°F and line your baking sheets with parchment paper. On a floured surface, roll out one disc of chilled dough to about 1/4 inch thick. Use your favorite gingerbread men cookie cutters to cut shapes, then carefully transfer them with a floured spatula to the trays, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Don’t forget to keep the second dough disc chilled while you work—it makes handling so much easier. Bake for about 8 minutes or until the edges are just starting to brown.

Step 7: Cool and Decorate

Once out of the oven, let your cookies cool on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely. Cooling is key—decorating warm cookies can turn your icing into a melty mess.

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Tips from My Kitchen

Don’t Skip Chilling: After my first batch spread into odd shapes, I never skip chilling. It really makes rolling and cutting so much easier.
Use a Light Hand with Flour: Flour your surface and cutters lightly to avoid dense cookies—too much flour can dry out your dough.
Timing the Baking: Watch your cookies closely at the 7-minute mark; they brown fast and taste best with just a touch of crispness on the edges.
Easy Cookie Transfer: I use an offset spatula for moving cutouts to prevent breakage—this little tool is a game-changer.

How to Serve Gingerbread Men Cookies Recipe

Gingerbread Men Cookies, holiday cookie recipe, baking gingerbread cookies, festive gingerbread treats, homemade gingerbread men - A gingerbread cookie shaped like a person sits on a black wire cooling rack placed on a white marbled surface. The cookie is a warm brown color with smooth texture, decorated with white icing. The icing forms a smiling face, three round buttons on the chest, and zigzag patterns on the arms and legs, all evenly spaced. The lighting highlights the cookie’s slightly raised edges, making it look soft and fresh. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Garnishes

When it comes to decorating, I keep it simple but fun—classic white royal icing piped with colorful candies for eyes and buttons. My kids love adding mini gumdrops or silver dragees for a little sparkle. Sometimes, I’ll dust the cookies lightly with powdered sugar for a snowy holiday vibe that’s just magical.

Side Dishes

To round out the serving, I like pairing these gingerbread men with a hot cup of spiced tea or rich hot chocolate—something warm to sip while enjoying the cookies. For holiday parties, a platter with some fresh fruit and cheese complements the spice in these cookies really well.

Creative Ways to Present

For a festive touch, I’ve presented the cookies in a glass jar tied with a ribbon as a gift. Another favorite is arranging them on a decorative platter with some sprigs of pine or cinnamon sticks—they instantly transform your cookie display into a holiday centerpiece.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover gingerbread men in an airtight container at room temperature, layered between parchment paper to prevent sticking. They stay crisp and flavorful for up to a week, though they rarely last that long in my house!

Freezing

If I want to make a big batch ahead, I freeze the dough discs wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. When I’m ready to bake, I thaw overnight in the fridge—it bakes up just as well as fresh dough, which is a lifesaver during busy holidays.

Reheating

Leftover cookies can be refreshed by warming them in a low oven (about 300°F) for 3-5 minutes. This brings back the slight softness inside while keeping the edges beautifully crisp—perfect for that fresh-baked taste.

FAQs

Can I make this Gingerbread Men Cookies Recipe dairy-free?

Absolutely! You can substitute the unsalted butter with a plant-based margarine or coconut oil that’s solid at room temperature. Just keep in mind that the flavor and texture might be slightly different but still delicious.
Why should I chill the dough before baking?

Chilling firms up the dough, which helps prevent spreading during baking. It also makes it much easier to roll out and cut your gingerbread men shapes neatly without sticking or tearing.
Can I use store-bought cookie cutters or homemade ones?

Either works great! I use store-bought gingerbread men cutters for consistent shapes, but I’ve also made homemade ones from sturdy cardboard covered in foil for fun DIY projects with the kids.
What’s the best way to decorate these cookies?

Royal icing is a classic choice because it dries hard and holds decorations well. You can also try melted chocolate or simple powdered sugar glazes; decorating is as much about fun as flavor here—let your creativity shine.
How long do gingerbread men cookies last?

Stored properly in an airtight container, they stay fresh for about a week at room temperature. For longer storage, freezing the baked cookies can preserve them for up to 3 months.

Final Thoughts

This Gingerbread Men Cookies Recipe holds a special place in my heart—it’s become a holiday tradition that fills my kitchen with sweet, spicy memories year after year. I hope you’ll love making (and eating) them as much as I do. The best part? Sharing these little festive treats with friends and family, each decorated figure telling a story or sparking a smile. Give it a try—you’ll be amazed at how simple ingredients come together to create such joyful bites. Happy baking!