Soft Chewy Gingerbread Men Cookies Recipe
These Soft Chewy Gingerbread Men Cookies are a delightful holiday treat, combining warm spices with a tender, chewy texture. Perfect for decorating with royal icing and sprinkles, they bring festive cheer to any occasion with their classic gingerbread flavor and inviting aroma.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8-10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
For the Cookies
- 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (plus more for rolling out the dough)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons ground ginger
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened (1 1/2 sticks)
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1 large egg, room temperature
For the Royal Icing
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 4 tablespoons warm water
- 2 tablespoons meringue powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- Sprinkles of your choice
Instructions
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt until thoroughly mixed. This forms the spiced base for your gingerbread cookie dough.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a separate large bowl, cream the softened unsalted butter and packed light brown sugar together until the mixture becomes fluffy and light. Then, add the molasses and the room temperature egg and mix well to incorporate all ingredients evenly.
- Form Dough and Chill: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet mixture, stirring until a dough forms. Once combined, cover the dough and chill it in the refrigerator for 1 hour to firm up, making it easier to roll and cut.
- Preheat Oven and Shape Cookies: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly flour your work surface and roll out the chilled dough to your desired thickness. Using gingerbread men cookie cutters, cut out shapes and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake Cookies: Bake the cut-out cookies in the preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes. They should be set but still soft and chewy. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack before decorating.
- Prepare Royal Icing: In a mixing bowl, combine powdered sugar, warm water, meringue powder, and cream of tartar. Mix until the icing is smooth and has a pipeable consistency suitable for decorating your cookies.
- Decorate Cookies: Once the cookies have cooled, use the royal icing and sprinkles of your choice to decorate each gingerbread man creatively. Let the icing set completely before serving or storing.
Notes
- Chilling the dough is essential to prevent spreading and to keep the cookies soft and chewy.
- If the dough becomes too hard after chilling, allow it to sit at room temperature for a few minutes before rolling.
- Use parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent sticking and aid in even baking.
- Adjust the thickness of the rolled dough depending on your preference for softer or slightly crisper cookies.
- For best results, use room temperature egg and butter to ensure smooth dough consistency.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week to maintain freshness.
Keywords: gingerbread men cookies, soft gingerbread cookies, chewy gingerbread cookies, holiday cookies, Christmas cookies, gingerbread recipe, royal icing decoration
