Description
These irresistibly chewy gingerbread man cookies bring a perfect balance of warm spices and rich molasses flavor. With a soft yet sturdy texture, they are ideal for holiday baking, decorated with royal icing for a festive touch. This classic treat is easy to make and sure to delight cookie lovers of all ages.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp ground ginger
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 0.5 tsp ground cloves (or nutmeg as substitute)
- 0.5 tsp baking soda
- 0.25 tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- 0.5 cups unsalted butter, softened
- 0.5 cups brown sugar, packed
- 0.5 cups molasses
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Optional
- Royal icing for decoration
Instructions
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine all-purpose flour, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, baking soda, and salt. Stir until evenly mixed to create the dry base.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a separate bowl, beat softened unsalted butter and packed brown sugar together using a mixer until the mixture becomes light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add Wet Flavorings: Add molasses, the large egg, and vanilla extract to the creamed butter and sugar mixture. Mix until smooth and fully combined for a rich and cohesive wet batter.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet mixture. Stir gently until a soft dough forms, careful not to overmix which could toughen the cookies.
- Chill Dough: Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld and to firm up the dough for easier rolling.
- Preheat Oven: While the dough chills, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking.
- Roll Out Dough: On a floured surface, roll the chilled dough out to approximately 1/4 inch thickness, ready for cutting into shapes.
Notes
- Refrigerating the dough is essential for flavor development and ease of handling.
- Use nutmeg instead of cloves if preferred or if cloves are unavailable.
- Royal icing decoration is optional but adds a traditional festive touch.
- Do not overmix the dough to keep cookies tender and chewy.
- Cut the cookies evenly to ensure uniform baking.
