Gingerbread Men Cookie Recipe
- Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1/2 cup unsulphured molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, and salt. Ensure the spices are evenly distributed throughout the flour to prevent any clumps of baking soda or ginger.
- In a large bowl using a stand mixer or hand mixer, beat the softened butter and brown sugar together on medium-high speed. Continue mixing for about 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture looks light, fluffy, and well-combined.
- Add the egg, molasses, and vanilla extract to the butter mixture. Beat on medium speed until fully incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula to ensure everything is mixed evenly.
- Turn the mixer to low speed and gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix just until the flour streaks disappear. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tough cookies.
- Divide the dough into two equal portions and flatten them into discs. Wrap each disc tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or even overnight. This step is crucial for preventing the cookies from spreading in the oven.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and 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 cutters to cut out your shapes and transfer them to the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes. The edges should be firm but the centers should still look slightly soft. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.