Classic Gingerbread Men Cookies with Royal Icing
Nothing screams holiday season quite like a tray of smiling Gingerbread Men Cookies fresh out of the oven. These spiced, slightly chewy cookies smell like Christmas itself — full of molasses, cinnamon, ginger, and nostalgia.
Every December, my kitchen turns into a gingerbread assembly line. There’s flour in my hair, dough on the counter, and at least one headless cookie because I “tested” it for quality control (totally justified).
If you’ve ever wanted to bake gingerbread men that actually taste as good as they look, this recipe’s your new best friend.
Why You’ll Love This Gingerbread Men Cookie Recipe
Let’s be honest — not all gingerbread cookies hit the mark. Some are rock hard (a dental nightmare), while others taste like sadness and spice dust. But these? They’re soft in the center, crisp on the edges, and bursting with cozy holiday flavor.
Here’s why you’ll love them:
- Perfectly spiced — just the right balance of ginger, cinnamon, and molasses.
- Soft yet sturdy — ideal for decorating without breaking.
- Make-ahead friendly — dough chills beautifully and bakes even better.
- Kid-approved fun — let’s face it, decorating is half the joy.
Basically, they’re festive little cookies with big personality.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s what you’ll need to bake your new favorite holiday cookie friends:
For the Cookies:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
For Decoration:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk (or lemon juice for tang)
- Food coloring, if you want to get fancy
- Mini candies, sprinkles, or chocolate chips for faces and buttons
Pro tip: Use unsulfured molasses — it gives you that deep, caramel-like flavor without bitterness.
Step-by-Step: How to Make Gingerbread Men Cookies
Step 1: Mix the Magic
In a large bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and molasses — your kitchen will instantly smell like a holiday candle.
Step 2: Add Dry Ingredients
In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and all those glorious spices. Gradually add the dry mix to the wet ingredients. The dough should come together into a thick, fragrant ball.
If it feels too sticky, add 1–2 tablespoons of flour.
Step 3: Chill Out
Flatten the dough into a disc, wrap it in plastic wrap, and chill it in the fridge for 1 hour (or up to 2 days). This makes the dough easier to roll and helps the flavors deepen.
Step 4: Roll, Cut, and Smile
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). On a floured surface, roll dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Use your favorite gingerbread man cutters (bonus points if they have little smiles).
Transfer cookies to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Step 5: Bake and Cool
Bake for 8–10 minutes until the edges are just set. The centers should still look slightly soft — that’s how you get chewy cookies instead of gingerbread frisbees.
Let them cool for 5 minutes on the tray, then move to a rack to cool completely.
Step 6: Decorate Like a Pro
Whisk powdered sugar and milk to create icing. Add food coloring if you’re feeling creative. Use piping bags, ziplock corners, or — in true lazy baker fashion — a spoon.
Add candy buttons, icing smiles, and maybe a mischievous frown or two. Your gingerbread army is ready.
Tips for Perfect Gingerbread Men Cookies
Here’s how to make them bakery-level amazing:
- Chill the dough. Seriously. It makes cutting shapes 10x easier.
- Use fresh spices. Stale ginger = sad cookies.
- Don’t overbake. They firm up as they cool.
- Get creative with shapes. Trees, stars, dinosaurs… who says only men get to be gingerbread? 😉
- Let the kids help. Sure, it’ll get messy. But it’s the good kind of chaos.
Flavor Twists & Fun Variations
Once you nail the base recipe, try one of these flavor spins:
Chocolate Gingerbread Men
Add 2 tablespoons cocoa powder for a deep, chocolatey twist.
Spicy Kick
Add a pinch of black pepper for an adult-approved heat. Sounds weird, tastes amazing.
Maple Gingerbread
Swap molasses for maple syrup for a lighter, sweet flavor.
Lemon Glaze
Use lemon juice instead of milk for the icing — that zingy contrast is chef’s kiss.
How to Store & Gift
These cookies are made for gifting — they keep beautifully and make adorable homemade presents.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container for up to 10 days.
- Freezing: Freeze baked cookies (undecorated) up to 3 months.
- Gifting Tip: Stack a few cookies, tie them with ribbon, and pop them in a clear bag. Add a tag that says “Baked with love (and probably a little chaos).”
Nutrition Info (Per Cookie)
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 145 |
| Fat | 6g |
| Saturated Fat | 3g |
| Carbs | 21g |
| Sugar | 11g |
| Protein | 2g |
Not bad for something that doubles as a cute ornament, right?
Final Thoughts
There’s just something magical about Gingerbread Men Cookies. Maybe it’s the warm spices, maybe it’s the nostalgia — or maybe it’s because they smile back at you before you bite their heads off (in the nicest way possible). 😅
Either way, these cookies are a holiday essential. They’re fun, flavorful, and totally Instagram-worthy. So grab your rolling pin, throw on some Mariah Carey, and start baking the smell of Christmas.
Print
Classic Gingerbread Men Cookies with Royal Icing
Description
Classic Gingerbread Men Cookies – soft, spiced, and fun to decorate for the holidays!
Ingredients
3 cups flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup butter
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp ginger
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 cup powdered sugar
2–3 tbsp milk
Food coloring, candies, sprinkles
Instructions
1. Cream butter and sugar.
2. Add egg and molasses; mix well.
3. Combine dry ingredients and add to wet mixture.
4. Chill dough for 1 hour.
5. Roll out dough and cut shapes.
6. Bake at 350°F for 8–10 minutes.
7. Cool and decorate with icing and candies.
Notes
Chill dough for easy cutting.
Do not overbake for soft texture.
Decorate cooled cookies only.
Store airtight up to 10 days or freeze up to 3 months.
