Classic Gingerbread Men: 1 Perfect Spiced Tradition
Create cherished Christmas memories with these classic gingerbread men cookies. This recipe is designed for families looking to bake and decorate spiced cookies as a beloved holiday tradition. Noah’s expertise ensures a foolproof, delicious outcome.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes (includes chilling time)
- Yield: Approximately 24 cookies
- Category: Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup unsulfured molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the egg, then stir in the molasses and vanilla extract until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, salt, and nutmeg.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until firm.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disc of dough to about 1/4-inch thickness.
- Use gingerbread man cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Carefully transfer the cookies to the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Decorate with royal icing and sprinkles once fully cooled.
Notes
- Ensure your butter is truly softened for the best creaming results.
- Chilling the dough is crucial for easy handling and sharp cookie shapes.
- Do not overmix the dough once the flour is added to prevent tough cookies.
- Baking time may vary based on your oven and cookie size. Watch for golden edges.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: Approximately 150-200 (will vary based on size and decoration)
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 75mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg