Classic spiced gingerbread men (Printable)
Classic spiced gingerbread men, ideal for decorating with icing and candies during festive times.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
03 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
04 - 1 tablespoon ground ginger
05 - 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
06 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
07 - 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
09 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
10 - 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
11 - 1 large egg
12 - 2/3 cup unsulphured molasses
13 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
→ Decoration
14 - Royal icing (store-bought or homemade)
15 - Assorted candies (mini M&Ms, sprinkles, colored sugars)
# How To Make It:
01 - In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside.
02 - In another bowl, beat softened butter and dark brown sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
03 - Beat in the egg, then blend in molasses and vanilla extract until fully combined.
04 - Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until a cohesive dough forms.
05 - Divide dough in half, shape each half into a disk, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
07 - On a lightly floured surface, roll one dough disk to about 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out gingerbread men shapes and transfer them to baking sheets, spacing 1 inch apart.
08 - Bake cookies for 8 to 10 minutes until edges firm. Cool on sheets for 2 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
09 - Once cooled, decorate with royal icing and assorted candies as desired. Allow icing to set before serving or storing.
# Tips from dashanddishes:
01 -
- These cookies have the perfect balance of spices that feels like a warm hug on a cold day
- The dough is easy to roll out and cut, making it a fun activity to share with loved ones
02 -
- Chilling the dough is key to prevent cookies from spreading and keeps shapes sharp
- Using unsulphured molasses makes the flavor richer and less bitter
03 -
- Beat the butter and sugar until very fluffy to achieve tender cookies
- Rolling the dough between sheets of parchment paper prevents sticking and makes cleanup easier