Description
Magical gingerbread men cookies dance with warm spices and festive charm, bringing holiday spirit to kitchen counters. Molasses-rich dough and crisp edges invite sweet memories while delighting cookie enthusiasts with classic seasonal comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 cups (360 grams) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (150 grams) brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) unsulfured molasses
- ¾ cup (112 grams or 2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Additional Ingredients:
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Decorating Ingredients (Optional):
- Royal icing (store-bought or homemade)
- Assorted sprinkles or candies
Instructions
- Whip the butter and brown sugar in a spacious mixing vessel until airy and velvety. Incorporate the egg, molasses, and vanilla extract, blending thoroughly until a uniform mixture emerges.
- In a separate container, sift together the dry components: flour, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, baking soda, and salt. Gradually fold these ingredients into the wet mixture, creating a supple dough.
- Partition the dough into two compact disks, encase each in transparent film, and refrigerate for a minimum of 60 minutes to enhance flavor development and improve texture.
- Heat the oven to 350F (175C) and arrange parchment paper on two baking trays. Dust a clean work surface with flour and gently roll out one dough disk to a delicate 14-inch thickness.
- Utilize a gingerbread man cookie cutter to craft charming silhouettes. Carefully transfer each shape onto the prepared baking sheets, maintaining a one-inch interval between cookies. Reassemble and re-roll remaining dough fragments.
- Place the trays in the preheated oven and bake for 8-10 minutes. The cookie edges should appear set while centers remain tender. Monitor closely to prevent overcooking and maintain a chewy consistency.
- Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for five minutes, then transition them to a wire cooling rack. Permit complete cooling before embellishing with royal icing, festive sprinkles, or delicate candies.
- Once decorations have solidified, the gingerbread men are prepared for serving or storing in an airtight container.
Notes
- Chill the dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain the gingerbread men’s crisp shape during baking.
- Use fresh, high-quality spices to enhance the warm, rich flavor profile of the cookies and create a more complex taste.
- Adjust spice levels by increasing or decreasing ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg to suit personal preferences or dietary restrictions.
- Store cookies in an airtight container with parchment paper between layers to maintain softness and prevent sticking for up to a week.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 15mg