Gingerbread Man Cookies
These delightful gingerbread man cookies are a warm and fragrant reminder of holiday traditions, perfect for decorating and sharing with loved ones.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour Use the freshest flour available.
- 1.5 teaspoons ground ginger Use high-quality ground ginger for best flavor.
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 0.5 teaspoon baking soda
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 0.75 cups unsalted butter, room temperature Make sure the butter is softened for easy creaming.
- 0.75 cups packed brown sugar Use light or dark brown sugar based on preference.
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup unsulfured molasses Local molasses can enhance flavor.
Instructions
Preparation
- In a mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients: all-purpose flour, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, baking soda, and salt. Whisk until blended.
- In another bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and molasses to the creamed mixture and mix until well incorporated.
- Gradually blend the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined. The dough should be somewhat sticky.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour, or overnight.
Baking
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to 1/8 inch thick and use cookie cutters to create shapes.
- Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes until the edges are firm but centers are soft.
- Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks.
Decoration
- Once cooled, decorate the cookies with icing and candies as desired.
Notes
For soft cookies, avoid overbaking. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.