Christmas Gingerbread Men
A delightful and festive recipe for Christmas Gingerbread Men that is perfect for family baking sessions, packed with flavorful spices and customizable decorations.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Decoration
- as needed Royal icing for decoration
Instructions
Preparation
- Gather all the ingredients on your counter.
Mixing Dough
- In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, baking soda, and salt.
- In another bowl, cream the softened unsalted butter and packed brown sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg, molasses, and vanilla extract to the butter mixture and mix well until smooth.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
Chilling and Baking
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Roll out the chilled dough to about 1/4 inch thick on a floured surface.
- Cut out shapes using a gingerbread man cookie cutter and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are firm and slightly golden.
- Allow the cookies to cool before decorating with royal icing.
Notes
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. To freeze, place layers of cookies separated by parchment paper in a freezer-safe container for up to three months.