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- 3 cups all-purpose flour - 1 teaspoon baking soda - 1 tablespoon ground ginger - 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon - ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg - ½ teaspoon salt - ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature - ¾ cup brown sugar, tightly packed - 1 large egg, at room temperature - ¼ cup unsulfured molasses - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract - White icing (for decorative purposes) - Colorful sprinkles (optional for added flair) When you bake, using the right measurements is key. If you run out of brown sugar, you can use white sugar instead. Just add a bit of molasses to mimic that rich flavor. You can also switch unsalted butter for salted butter. Just be careful with adding extra salt. If you need a dairy-free option, try coconut oil or vegan butter. Decorating your gingerbread men can be so much fun! You can use white icing for simple designs. For a pop of color, add colorful sprinkles. You can also use candy eyes or small chocolate chips to make your cookies extra special. Get creative and let your imagination shine! {{ingredient_image_2}} Start by gathering your dry ingredients. You need 3 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of ground ginger, 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon of ground nutmeg, and ½ teaspoon of salt. In a medium bowl, whisk these ingredients together. This step blends the spices and ensures an even texture in your cookies. Set this bowl aside for later. Next, take a large bowl for the wet ingredients. Add ¾ cup of softened unsalted butter and ¾ cup of packed brown sugar. Use an electric mixer to beat them together. Mix on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy. This should take about 3 to 5 minutes. This step adds air and makes the cookies soft. Now, add 1 large egg, ¼ cup of unsulfured molasses, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract to your butter mixture. Blend everything until smooth. Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet ones. Start on low speed to avoid a flour cloud. Keep mixing until a soft dough forms. If the dough sticks to the bowl, scrape down the sides as you mix. Divide this dough into two equal parts. Flatten each part into a disc, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 1 hour. Chilling helps the flavors develop and makes cutting easier. Chilling the dough is key to soft gingerbread men. After mixing your dough, split it into two discs. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least one hour. This step helps the dough firm up. It also deepens the flavors. If you have time, chill it overnight for even better taste. Once the dough is chilled, it's time to roll it out. Lightly flour your surface before placing one disc on it. Roll the dough to about ¼-inch thick. Use cookie cutters to create gingerbread men shapes. Carefully lift each cut-out and place it on a lined baking sheet. Make sure to leave space between each cookie for even baking. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the cookies for 8-10 minutes. Watch closely, as the edges should be just set. Remember, the cookies will harden as they cool. Avoid overbaking to keep them soft. Let the cookies cool for about 5 minutes on the baking sheet. Then, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. This cooling step is important for perfect texture. Pro Tips Chill the Dough: Refrigerating the dough for at least an hour allows the flavors to meld and results in a firmer dough that’s easier to roll out. Check for Doneness: Cookies should be soft in the center when you take them out of the oven; they will continue to firm up as they cool. Decorate with Care: Use a piping bag for your icing to achieve neat and precise decorations on your gingerbread men. Storage Tips: Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week to keep them soft and fresh. {{image_4}} To make soft gingerbread men cookies, start with the right ingredients. Use unsalted butter that is soft but not melted. This helps create a fluffy texture. Chill the dough for at least one hour before rolling. This step keeps the cookies from spreading too much. Bake them until the edges are just set. This will help maintain that soft interior. Remember, they continue to cook as they cool. Decorating your gingerbread men adds fun and flair. Use white icing for a simple, clean look. You can pipe it on to create eyes, mouths, and buttons. Get creative with colorful sprinkles to add excitement. They can go on top of the icing. If you want a festive touch, consider edible glitter or candy pieces. Let your imagination run wild! There are a few mistakes to watch out for. First, don’t skip chilling the dough. This step is key for soft cookies. Second, avoid overbaking. They should look slightly soft in the middle when you take them out. Lastly, don’t rush the cooling time. Let them cool completely before decorating. This way, your icing won’t melt! Following these tips will ensure your cookies turn out perfect every time. You can add a twist to your soft gingerbread men cookies. Try mixing in some orange zest for a bright flavor. Adding a touch of ground cloves can deepen the spice profile. If you love chocolate, use cocoa powder instead of some flour. This creates a rich chocolate gingerbread cookie. For a nutty taste, add chopped walnuts or pecans. This makes each bite even more delicious and fun. While gingerbread men are classic, you can use different shapes. Use cookie cutters for stars, hearts, or trees. Your kids will love this! You can also make large gingerbread houses. This adds a fun activity during the holidays. Once baked, then decorate with icing and sprinkles. Let your imagination run wild with your designs! If you need a gluten-free option, I have you covered. Replace all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend. Look for a mix that includes xanthan gum for better texture. You may also want to check your spices to ensure they are gluten-free. With these swaps, you can enjoy soft gingerbread cookies without worry. They will be just as tasty and festive! Store your soft gingerbread men cookies in an airtight container. This helps keep them fresh. You can use a cookie jar or a plastic tub with a lid. Layer parchment paper between the cookies to prevent sticking. If you live in a humid area, consider adding a piece of bread. This will help keep the cookies soft. Soft gingerbread men cookies will last about one week at room temperature. If you want to keep them longer, store them in the fridge. They can last up to two weeks when refrigerated. For even longer storage, you can freeze them. Wrap each cookie in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe bag. They will stay good for up to three months in the freezer. Can I freeze the dough? Yes, you can freeze the dough. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store it in the freezer. It will last for about three months. When you're ready, thaw it overnight in the fridge before rolling it out. What if my cookies are too hard? If your cookies turn out hard, they may have been overbaked. Also, make sure to store them properly to keep them soft. You can add a slice of bread to the container to help soften them. Can I use different spices? Absolutely! You can experiment with spices like allspice or cloves. Adjust the amounts to your taste. This adds a fun twist to the classic gingerbread flavor. Do I need to use icing? Icing is not required, but it makes the cookies look fun and festive. You can skip it or use a simple glaze if you prefer. In this post, we explored the key ingredients for soft gingerbread cookies. We covered how to prep, bake, and add special touches. You learned tips to make your cookies soft and avoid common mistakes. Plus, we looked at tasty twists, how to store them, and answered FAQs. Soft gingerbread cookies bring joy every time. Now, get baking and enjoy!

Soft Gingerbread Men Cookies

Deliciously soft and spiced gingerbread cookies shaped like men, perfect for the holiday season.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 24
Calories 120 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 0.5 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 0.5 teaspoon salt
  • 0.75 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 0.75 cup brown sugar, tightly packed
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • 0.25 cup unsulfured molasses
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • None none white icing (for decorative purposes)
  • None none colorful sprinkles (optional for added flair)

Instructions
 

  • In a medium mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking soda, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and salt. Whisk these dry ingredients together until well blended, then set aside for later use.
  • In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the softened butter and packed brown sugar together. Beat on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, approximately 3-5 minutes.
  • Add the large egg, unsulfured molasses, and vanilla extract to the creamed butter mixture. Blend thoroughly until all ingredients are smoothly combined.
  • Gradually incorporate the dry mixture into the wet ingredients. Mix on low speed until a soft and cohesive dough forms, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  • Divide the dough into two equal halves. Flatten each portion into a disc, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or let chill overnight for deeper flavor).
  • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
  • On a lightly floured surface, take one chilled disc of dough and roll it out to a thickness of about ¼-inch. Use cookie cutters to punch out gingerbread men shapes, carefully transferring each cut-out shape to the prepared baking sheets.
  • Bake the gingerbread cookies in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are just set. Remember, they will firm up as they cool, so do not overbake!
  • Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes before gently transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • Once the cookies are thoroughly cooled, unleash your creativity by decorating them with white icing and adding colorful sprinkles as desired.

Notes

For deeper flavor, chill the dough overnight. Decorate with icing and sprinkles for a festive touch.
Keyword cookies, gingerbread, holiday