Christmas just isn’t Christmas without a house filled with the warm, spicy scent of cookies baking, right? And for me, it *always* starts with gingerbread men. There’s something so magical about gathering the family, rolling out the dough, and creating those little guys together.
Did you know gingerbread has been around for centuries? Originally, it wasn’t even a cookie! It was more like spiced bread. But somewhere along the way, those cute gingerbread men became a Christmas staple, and I’m SO glad they did!
Trust me, these are the **Best Christmas Cookies With Gingerbread Men** you’ll ever make. They’ve got that perfect balance of gingery spice and sweet molasses, and they’re just begging to be decorated. When I was little, my grandma would let me use *all* the sprinkles…even the ones that were supposed to be for other cookies! It was a sticky, sugary mess, but those are some of my favorite Christmas memories. I’ve been baking for over 20 years now, and after tons of trials, I’ve perfected this recipe to be the best of the best!
Why You’ll Love These Best Christmas Cookies With Gingerbread Men
Okay, so why *these* gingerbread men? Well, lemme tell ya, they’re kinda the best. Here’s why:
Quick and Easy to Make
Seriously! No crazy complicated steps here. We’re talking simple ingredients you probably already have and easy-peasy instructions. I promise, even the kids can help!
Perfectly Spiced and Sweet
That’s the *whole* point, right? These aren’t just sweet blobs. We’ve got the *perfect* blend of ginger, cinnamon, and a hint of molasses for that real Christmas-y flavor.
A Fun Holiday Activity
Forget the stress of gift-wrapping! Baking these is a total blast. Crank up the Christmas tunes, get everyone involved, and make some memories! My favorite part is seeing what crazy designs everyone comes up with!
Gather Your Ingredients for the Best Christmas Cookies With Gingerbread Men
Alright, let’s get our stuff together! Before you even *think* about preheating that oven, make sure you’ve got all this on hand. Trust me, there’s nothing worse than getting halfway through and realizing you’re out of cinnamon!
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened (this is key! Don’t use it straight from the fridge!)
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar (yep, make sure it’s packed in there good!)
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup molasses (the secret ingredient for that classic gingerbread flavor!)
- Royal icing for decorating (because what’s a gingerbread man without a little bling?)
Now, double check everything! Got it all? Good, let’s get baking our Best Christmas Cookies With Gingerbread Men!
How to Make the Best Christmas Cookies With Gingerbread Men: Step-by-Step Instructions
Okay, peeps, time to get our bake on! Don’t worry, I’m gonna walk you through this step-by-step. Just follow along and you’ll have adorable, delicious gingerbread men in no time!
Preparing the Dough
First, grab a big ol’ bowl and whisk together your flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Just get it all nice and mixed up – no need to be fussy here.
Now, in a *separate* bowl (important!), cream together that softened butter and packed brown sugar. You’ll want to beat it until it’s light and fluffy. I usually use a mixer for this, but you can totally do it by hand if you’re feeling strong! Just make sure the butter is *actually* soft, or you’ll be there all day!
Next, beat in your egg and molasses. Mmm, that molasses smell is *so* Christmas-y! Gradually add your dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until *just* combined. This is important: **don’t overmix!** Overmixing makes tough cookies, and nobody wants that.
Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disk, wrap them in plastic wrap, and pop them in the fridge for at least 1 hour. Trust me on this, chilling is KEY! Otherwise, your gingerbread men will spread out like crazy in the oven and you’ll end up with gingerbread blobs. We want men, not amoebas!
Cutting and Baking the Cookies
Alright, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). While that’s heating up, roll out your chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4-inch thickness. Now, grab your gingerbread men cookie cutters and go to town!
Place those cute little guys on baking sheets lined with parchment paper (parchment paper = no sticking!). Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown. Keep a close eye on them, because they can go from perfect to burnt pretty quickly. Ask me how I know!
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Patience, young Padawans! They *need* to be completely cool before you decorate them.
Decorating Your Gingerbread Men
This is the fun part! Once your cookies are completely cool, grab your royal icing and let your creativity flow! Use different colors, add sprinkles, create funny faces – the possibilities are endless.
My personal tip? Use a piping bag with a small tip for outlining and then thin out some of the icing with a little water for flooding. It makes it so much easier to get a smooth, even finish. And don’t forget the candy buttons! Every gingerbread man needs candy buttons!
Have fun, get creative, and enjoy your **Best Christmas Cookies With Gingerbread Men**!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for Your Best Christmas Cookies With Gingerbread Men
Okay, so a few little notes on those ingredients! First off, if you’re gluten-free, no sweat! Just swap out the regular flour for a good gluten-free blend. I’ve had great luck with Bob’s Red Mill, but experiment and see what you like best!
Also, for the molasses, I *highly* recommend dark molasses if you can find it. It gives a much richer, deeper flavor. But if you only have light, that’s totally fine too! They’ll still be amazing! And hey, if you’re feeling adventurous, a tiny pinch of black pepper adds a *wow* factor! Don’t tell anyone I told you!
Tips for Baking the Best Christmas Cookies With Gingerbread Men
Want to make sure your gingerbread men are *perfect*? Here are a few of my top tips to guarantee success. Trust me, these little things make a HUGE difference!
Preventing Spreading
I know I already said it, but it’s worth repeating: **chill that dough!** Seriously, don’t skip this step. It’s the #1 way to keep your cookies from spreading out into weird shapes. If you’re in a hurry, you can even pop it in the freezer for 20-30 minutes. Just keep an eye on it so it doesn’t get rock hard!
Achieving the Right Texture
Nobody likes a rock-hard gingerbread man! To keep them soft and chewy, **avoid overbaking**. Start checking them around 7 minutes, and take them out when the edges are *just* starting to turn golden brown. They’ll firm up as they cool!
Storing Decorated Cookies
Okay, so you’ve got a pile of beautifully decorated gingerbread men…now what? The best way to keep them fresh is to store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They should last for up to a week (if you can resist eating them all before then!). Careful stacking them, or that icing is going to get smudged!
Frequently Asked Questions About Best Christmas Cookies With Gingerbread Men
Got questions? I’ve got answers! Here are a few of the most common things people ask me about these **Best Christmas Cookies With Gingerbread Men**.
Can I make the dough ahead of time?
Absolutely! In fact, I often do! You can totally make the dough a day or two in advance and store it in the refrigerator. Just make sure it’s well-wrapped. It’s one less thing to worry about on baking day! Just let it soften up a bit before you try to roll it out, or you’ll be wrestling with a rock-hard disk!
Can I freeze the gingerbread men cookies?
Yep! If you want to get a head start on your holiday baking, bake the cookies, let them cool *completely*, and then freeze them *undecorated*. That way, you can pull them out whenever you’re ready to decorate! Just thaw them at room temperature before icing. Trust me, decorating frozen cookies is a *mess*!
What is the best way to decorate these cookies?
Okay, so I’m a *huge* fan of royal icing. It dries hard, which means your decorations are less likely to get smudged. But hey, if you’re not feeling that fancy, you can definitely use other frostings! Even store-bought frosting works in a pinch! Edible markers are also super fun for adding details, especially for the kiddos! Just have fun with it!
Storing Your Best Christmas Cookies With Gingerbread Men
Alright, so you’ve baked and decorated your little gingerbread men masterpieces! Now, how do you keep ’em fresh? Easy peasy! Just pop those decorated cookies into an airtight container and store them at room temperature. They’ll stay good for up to a week…if they last that long! Just be careful stacking them – you don’t want to smudge all your hard work!
Nutritional Information
Okay, so here’s the deal: I’m no nutritionist! Just keep in mind that the nutritional info can vary *a lot* depending on the brands you use. It’s just a general estimate, not a precise calculation, alright?
Make This Holiday Special With These Best Christmas Cookies With Gingerbread Men
Okay, friends, time to spread the Christmas cheer! If you try these gingerbread men, pretty please leave a comment and let me know how they turned out! A rating would make my day, too! And hey, snap a pic and share it on social media – tag me in your cookie creations! I can’t wait to see your little gingerbread masterpieces!
Bake Best Christmas Cookies With Gingerbread Men in 1 Hour
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 8-10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Yield: About 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Enjoy these delightful Christmas cookies featuring classic gingerbread men.
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup molasses
- Royal icing for decorating
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in egg and molasses.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Divide dough in half, flatten into disks, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness.
- Cut out gingerbread men shapes using cookie cutters.
- Place cookies on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden brown.
- Let cookies cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Decorate with royal icing.
Notes
- Refrigerating the dough is crucial for preventing the cookies from spreading too much during baking.
- Adjust baking time depending on your oven.
- Store decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
