Description
Festive gingerbread men cookies sparkle with holiday cheer, bringing warmth and nostalgia to winter celebrations. Spicy molasses and rich butter create irresistible treats that will enchant guests and make memories deliciously sweet.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients:
- 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 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
Wet Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup (170 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1 large egg, room temperature
Icing and Decorations:
- 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
- Prepare the dry ingredients by whisking flour, aromatic spices, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Sift the mixture to eliminate potential spice clumps, then set aside.
- Create a creamy base by beating softened butter, brown sugar, and molasses until light and airy, approximately 2 minutes on medium speed. Incorporate the egg, mixing until completely smooth and ensuring all ingredients are fully blended.
- Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture using low speed, creating a cohesive dough without overmixing. Carefully divide the dough into two portions, individually wrap with plastic, and refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to ¼-inch thickness. Use gingerbread men cookie cutters to shape the cookies, transferring them onto parchment-lined baking sheets.
- Bake for 9-10 minutes until cookie edges are set but centers remain soft. Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire cooling rack.
- Craft royal icing by whipping powdered sugar, meringue powder, cream of tartar, and water until achieving a thick, glossy consistency. Decorate the cooled cookies with intricate piping and festive sprinkles, unleashing your creative design skills.
Notes
- Sifting dry ingredients prevents clumpy spices and ensures a smooth, even cookie texture that melts in your mouth.
- Refrigerating dough develops deeper flavors and prevents cookies from spreading too thin during baking, creating perfectly shaped gingerbread men.
- Slightly underbaking keeps cookies soft and chewy, giving that melt-in-your-mouth quality that makes these treats irresistible.
- Replace wheat flour with gluten-free blend for those with dietary restrictions, maintaining the same delicious spiced flavor and soft texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1.5 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg