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· 4.7 from 45 reviews

If you’re on the hunt for the ultimate festive treat, I can’t recommend this Gingerbread Men Cookies Recipe enough! These cookies are perfectly spiced, wonderfully chewy, and just the right canvas for your decorating creativity. Whether it’s your first time or you’re a gingerbread pro, keep reading—I’ve packed this recipe full of tips and tricks to help you nail it every single time.

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Why This Recipe Works

Balanced Spice Blend: Combining ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice creates that classic warm flavor we all crave in gingerbread men cookies.
Rich Molasses Flavor: Using unsulphured molasses adds depth and a wonderful chewy texture without any bitterness.
Proper Dough Chilling: Chilling the dough makes it easier to roll out and helps keep the cookies from spreading out too much in the oven.
Simple but Effective Method: Step-by-step instructions ensure even beginners can achieve perfect gingerbread men every time.

Gingerbread Men Cookies, Gingerbread Cookies Recipe, Festive Gingerbread Cookies, Homemade Gingerbread Men, Holiday Cookie Recipes - 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

Every ingredient in this Gingerbread Men Cookies Recipe plays a role in the final bite: from the firm structure the flour provides, to the spices that give it character, and the molasses that ties everything together with lovely chewiness. Here are some shopping pointers to get you started right:

Gingerbread Men Cookies, Gingerbread Cookies Recipe, Festive Gingerbread Cookies, Homemade Gingerbread Men, Holiday Cookie Recipes - 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: Measuring flour accurately is key—go for a light spoon-and-level method or weigh it if you can to avoid dry, crumbly dough.
Ground ginger: Fresh ginger gives that zippy kick; make sure it’s fragrant and not too old.
Ground cinnamon: Adds warmth and sweetness; fresh ground really elevates the flavor.
Ground cloves: A little goes a long way—adds a subtle earthiness perfect for gingerbread.
Ground nutmeg: Provides a gentle nutty aroma that complements cinnamon beautifully.
Ground allspice: Blends the cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg flavors for a rounded spice profile.
Baking soda: Helps leavening so the cookies get a bit of lightness without losing their shape.
Salt: Enhances all the flavors and balances the sweetness.
Unsalted butter: Soft but not melted—room temperature is perfect for creaming to trap air for fluffiness.
Dark brown sugar: Gives moisture and a deep caramel flavor—if unavailable, light brown works fine.
Vanilla extract: Just a touch to lift and round out all the spices.
Unsulphured molasses: This adds that quintessential gingerbread richness; avoid blackstrap, as it’s a bit bitter.
Large egg: Binds everything together and adds moisture for chewy softness.

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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.

Tweak to Your Taste

This recipe is a great base canvas—over the years, I’ve found subtle tweaks you might like to try depending on your mood or what’s in your pantry. Feel free to make it your own!

Variation: One time, I swapped out the molasses for maple syrup in a pinch, and while it changed the flavor slightly, the cookies still turned out deliciously moist.
Dietary modifications: You can substitute gluten-free flour blends if you want a GF version—just watch the dough texture as it might be a bit more delicate.
Spice tweaks: If cloves are too strong for you, try reducing the amount or adding a tiny pinch of cardamom for a different spice twist.
Decorating styles: Customize your gingerbread men with royal icing, chocolate chips, or even tiny candies—have fun with it!

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

Step 1: Mixing the Dry Ingredients

First things first: in a large bowl, whisk together all your dry spices, flour, baking soda, and salt. Doing this helps evenly distribute the spices, so you get that perfect bite of gingerbread flavor in every cookie. Also, I always sift the flour before measuring to avoid clumps that could mess with the dough’s texture.

Step 2: Creaming Butter and Sugar

Next, grab a mixer and cream your room temperature unsalted butter until it’s light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Then add in the dark brown sugar and vanilla extract, beating until it’s airy. This step traps air in the dough, which makes your cookies just right—not too dense or dry.

Step 3: Adding Molasses and Egg

Now mix in the molasses and the egg until fully combined. I recommend unsulphured molasses because it gives rich flavor without bitterness. Don’t rush this part; a well-blended mix means smoother dough and better baking results.

Step 4: Combining Wet and Dry

Add your dry ingredients into the wet mixture in small batches. I like to use a spatula in between to scrape down the bowl to make sure everything gets well incorporated. This method prevents overmixing—overworked dough can get tough, and we want soft, melt-in-your-mouth gingerbread men, right?

Step 5: Chilling the Dough

Divide the dough into two discs, wrap them in plastic, and pop them in the fridge for at least an hour or overnight if you have the time. Chilling firms up the dough, making it easier to roll out and results in cookies holding their shape impeccably during baking.

Step 6: Rolling and Cutting Out Your Cookies

When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll out one disc on a well-floured surface to about 1/4 inch thick. Use your gingerbread men cutters, then carefully transfer each to the baking sheet with a floured spatula. Keep the other disc chilled to prevent sticking.

Step 7: Baking and Cooling

Bake for around 8 minutes or until the edges just start to brown slightly—don’t overbake, or they’ll get too crisp! Let them cool on the sheet for a couple of minutes before moving to a wire rack. This cooling stage helps them set up nicely before you start decorating.

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Pro Tips for Making Gingerbread Men Cookies Recipe

Accurate Flour Measurement: I always spoon the flour into the cup and level it off with a knife—avoid scooping directly to prevent dense dough.
Chill Dough Overnight: If you have the patience, overnight chilling intensifies flavor and makes rolling out much easier.
Use Parchment Paper: It keeps the cookies from sticking and ensures even baking without extra oil or butter.
Don’t Overbake: Pull them out as soon as edges brown—you want tender centers that stay soft after cooling.

How to Serve Gingerbread Men Cookies Recipe

Gingerbread Men Cookies, Gingerbread Cookies Recipe, Festive Gingerbread Cookies, Homemade Gingerbread Men, Holiday Cookie Recipes - 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

I love decorating my gingerbread men with a mix of classic royal icing and tiny candies—the red and green colors just scream holiday cheer! For a slightly more adult twist, sometimes I drizzle melted white chocolate or add a sprinkle of edible glitter. Simple icing skills go a long way here; even just dotting on eyes and buttons makes the cookies come alive.

Side Dishes

Pairing these gingerbread cookies with a warm cup of spiced tea or hot cocoa is my go-to snack combo. If you’re serving as part of a holiday spread, a plate of candied nuts or cheese with fig jam provides a lovely contrast to the sweet spices.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday parties, I sometimes arrange gingerbread men standing on little skewer sticks inside a decorated jar or mug filled with cinnamon sticks and pine cones—looks charming and doubles as décor! Another fun idea is to create a cookie “family” with assorted decorations, then wrap them up as edible gifts with colorful ribbons.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep leftover gingerbread men cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week—though they rarely last that long in my house! If you’re worried about them drying out, add a slice of bread to the container; it helps keep cookies soft.

Freezing

To prep ahead, you can freeze the dough wrapped tightly in plastic for up to 3 months. When ready, thaw it overnight in the fridge before rolling out. I’ve also frozen baked cookies between sheets of parchment, and defrosted them at room temp with no loss in flavor or texture.

Reheating

If your cookies get a little soft from storage, pop them in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes to crisp them back up. Just keep an eye on them so they don’t overbake!

FAQs

Can I make this Gingerbread Men Cookies Recipe without molasses?

Molasses is key for authentic flavor and texture, but if you need a substitute, you can try using dark corn syrup or maple syrup. Keep in mind this might slightly alter the taste and chewiness, so the cookies won’t be quite traditional but still tasty.
How thick should I roll out the dough?

About 1/4 inch thick is perfect for maintaining shape and baking evenly. Rolling too thin can make cookies brittle, and too thick might cause them to bake unevenly or take longer in the oven.
What’s the best way to prevent gingerbread cookies from spreading?

Chilling the dough thoroughly before rolling helps a great deal. Also, making sure your baking soda measurements are accurate and not too generous prevents excessive spreading. Using parchment paper or silicone mats is also helpful.
Can I decorate these cookies ahead of time?

Absolutely! Once the cookies are cooled, you can decorate them and let the icing set. Store them in an airtight container with layers separated by parchment to keep your designs intact.
How many cookies does this recipe make?

The yield depends on your cookie cutter size, but typically you’ll get around 24 medium-sized gingerbread men. Smaller cutters will give you more cookies, so plan baking sheets accordingly!

Final Thoughts

This Gingerbread Men Cookies Recipe genuinely feels like a holiday hug in cookie form. I love how it brings people together—whether you’re making them with family, friends, or simply for yourself with a hot drink nearby. It’s straightforward, forgiving, and produces deliciously spiced cookies that you can proudly decorate and share. Trust me, once you try this recipe, these gingerbread men will be a staple in your kitchen traditions, just like they are in mine.