Classic Spiced Gingerbread Men (Printable version)

Crisp-edged, soft-centered spiced gingerbread men, perfect for holiday decorating and sharing joy.

# What you need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
03 - 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
04 - 1 tablespoon ground ginger
05 - 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
06 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
07 - 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

09 - 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
10 - 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
11 - 1 large egg
12 - 1/2 cup unsulfured molasses
13 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

→ For Decorating

14 - Royal icing or simple icing sugar glaze
15 - Decorative candies or sprinkles (optional)

# How To:

01 - Whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
02 - Beat softened butter and brown sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, approximately 2 minutes.
03 - Add the egg, molasses, and vanilla extract to the creamed mixture and blend until fully combined.
04 - Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients on low speed until a uniform dough forms.
05 - Divide the dough in half, flatten each portion into discs, wrap with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
06 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
07 - Lightly flour a surface and roll the chilled dough to a thickness of 1/4 inch.
08 - Use gingerbread man cookie cutters to cut shapes and transfer them to the prepared baking sheets, spacing 1 inch apart.
09 - Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until the edges are firm and the centers are set.
10 - Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
11 - Once cooled, decorate the cookies with icing and candies as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Every bite feels like sharing a secret between old friends who love a touch of festive spice
  • The perfect balance of crisp edges and soft centers makes these cookies an instant favorite year after year
02 -
  • Letting the dough chill properly is essential; trying to skip this step will lead to cookies that spread too much.
  • Adding a pinch of black pepper was a game changer for me, surprising with a subtle kick that elevates the warm spices.
03 -
  • Use parchment paper on your baking sheets for easy cleanup and perfect bottoms on your cookies
  • Rolling the dough between two sheets of parchment keeps your surface clean and dough even

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