Description
There’s something truly magical about the aroma of warm spices filling your kitchen during the holiday season. The moment cinnamon, ginger, and molasses come together in perfect harmony, memories of cozy winter afternoons and flour-dusted countertops begin to dance in your mind. Making gingerbread men cookies with children transforms an ordinary afternoon into an extraordinary adventure where little hands become master decorators and your kitchen becomes their creative playground.
Ingredients
For the Cookie Dough:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour (plus extra for rolling)
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- ½ cup molasses
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For Decorating:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3–4 tablespoons milk
- Food coloring (optional)
- Mini chocolate chips, raisins, or candies for details
Smart Substitutions:
For gluten-free needs, replace all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend. Coconut oil can substitute butter for dairy-free requirements, though the texture will be slightly different. Maple syrup can replace molasses if you prefer a milder flavor, using ⅓ cup instead of ½ cup.
Instructions
Whisk together flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. The fragrant spice mixture should smell like holiday magic—this aromatic foundation sets the stage for perfectly balanced gingerbread men cookies.
Beat softened butter and brown sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. The mixture should look pale and creamy. Add molasses, egg, and vanilla, beating until completely combined. Don’t worry if the mixture looks a bit lumpy at first—it will smooth out beautifully.
Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until a soft dough forms. Avoid overmixing, which can make your gingerbread men tough. The dough should hold together nicely without being sticky.
Divide dough in half and wrap each portion in plastic wrap. Flatten into discs and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. This crucial step makes rolling much easier and prevents spreading during baking.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll chilled dough on a floured surface to ¼-inch thickness. Kids love helping with this step! Use gingerbread man cutters to create your cookie shapes, re-rolling scraps as needed. Place cookies 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets.
Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are lightly golden. The centers should still look soft—they’ll continue cooking on the hot pan. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks.
Once completely cool, mix powdered sugar with milk to create decorating icing. Let children’s creativity shine as they add faces, buttons, and clothing details. Simple royal icing sets quickly and provides the perfect canvas for artistic expression.