Name: Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 11 min
Total time: 36 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour; 3/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed; 3/4 teaspoon baking soda; 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon; 1 tablespoon ground ginger; 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 12 tablespoons butter, room temperature, cut into 12 pieces; 3/4 cup dark molasses; 2 tablespoons milk; 2 tablespoons butter, room temperature; 2 cups powdered sugar; 2 tablespoons milk

There’s something magical about the smell of molasses and warm spices filling the kitchen while you bake. This Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe brings that cozy feeling right into your home, offering soft, chewy cookies that are a joy to make and decorate with family or friends.

A gingerbread cookie shaped like a person is shown held by small hands. The cookie is brown with a rough texture and decorated with white icing making zigzag patterns on the arms and legs. The face has white icing eyes and a smile. The center has three round candy buttons in blue, red, and yellow, each surrounded by white icing. Several other similar cookies lay blurred in the background on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’ve made gingerbread cookies plenty of times, but this Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe stands out because it strikes the perfect balance between soft chewiness and flavorful spices. Plus, decorating these little guys is a blast no matter your skill level.

Perfect Texture: These cookies bake up soft and chewy, the kind you want to bite into again and again.
Classic Spice Blend: Cinnamon, ginger, and cloves create that warm holiday spice that just fills the kitchen with nostalgia.
Easy to Handle Dough: The dough chills beautifully, making rolling and cutting out shapes a stress-free process.
Fun for All Ages: Whether you’re decorating with kids or friends, these cookies are a festive canvas for creativity.

Nine gingerbread cookies shaped like little people are laid out in three rows on a white marbled surface. Each cookie is light brown with simple white icing used to create smiling faces with two eyes and a curved mouth. White icing zigzags decorate the arms and legs. Three round candies in different bright colors like red, blue, yellow, green, orange, and pink are placed vertically down the center of each cookie, acting as buttons. The cookies have a slightly rough texture with some small cracks visible on a few of them. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

These ingredients come together to create that iconic gingerbread flavor and texture: warm molasses spiced just right, butter for richness, and the right balance of leavening and flour for tender softness. Here’s a quick peek at why each element plays its part so well.

Flat lay of a small mound of all-purpose flour, a small heap of packed dark brown sugar, a small white ceramic bowl with fine light brown ground cinnamon, a small white ceramic bowl with warm beige ground ginger, a small white ceramic bowl with dark brown ground cloves, a small white ceramic bowl of white salt crystals, twelve pieces of pale yellow room temperature butter cut into pats arranged in a neat circle, a small white ceramic bowl filled with dark amber molasses, a small white ceramic bowl with creamy white milk, a small white ceramic bowl of powdered sugar, two whole uncracked brown eggs placed side by side, all ingredients arranged with perfect symmetry on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

All-purpose flour: Provides structure and ensures the cookies hold their shape well during baking.
Dark brown sugar: Adds moisture and a deep caramel flavor, complementing the molasses perfectly.
Baking soda: Helps the cookies spread just enough to keep them soft but not too thin.
Ground cinnamon: Gives a sweet-spicy backbone that’s classic for gingerbread.
Ground ginger: The star spice that lends these cookies their warm zing.
Ground cloves: A little goes a long way adding a rich complexity.
Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the spices.
Butter: Room temperature butter cuts in easily and creates a tender crumb.
Molasses (dark): The heart of gingerbread flavor—deep, slightly bitter, and full of warmth.
Milk: Adds just enough liquidity to bring the dough together smoothly.
Powdered sugar: For the frosting to decorate your cookies.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of the joys of this Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe is how easy it is to tweak. I love swapping a little allspice or nutmeg into the mix for a slightly different spice profile, and sometimes, I add a splash of vanilla extract to the dough for added depth.

Variation: When I want a softer cookie perfect for little hands, I slightly decrease the baking time and cool them on the tray for a few minutes before moving – it keeps them extra tender.
Dietary modification: I’ve successfully used coconut oil instead of butter to give these cookies a subtle twist and make them dairy-free.
Seasonal tweaks: Around Christmas, I sometimes add mini chocolate chips or crushed peppermint to the frosting for fun festive flair.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Mix Your Dry Ingredients

Start by adding the flour, dark brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt to a large mixing bowl. Give them a quick stir to combine everything evenly before the butter joins the party. This step is pretty straightforward, but mixing the spices really well ensures a consistent delicious bite in every cookie.

Step 2: Cut in the Butter

Add your room temperature butter pieces and use a pastry blender or fork to cut it into the flour mixture until it looks like fine meal. This is a key step! You want little butter bits coating the flour and sugar so when the dough bakes, it creates tender layers within the cookie.

Step 3: Incorporate Molasses and Milk

With your mixer on low, gradually add the molasses and milk to the mixture. Let it blend until it just comes together, about 30 seconds. Don’t overmix here; the dough should be sticky but manageable once chilled. This balance makes the cookies soft but not crumbly.

Step 4: Chill the Dough

Divide the dough in half, form each half into a ball, and wrap tightly in plastic. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. If you’re pressed for time, pop it in the freezer for 20 minutes. This chilling step is your secret weapon—it firms up the dough so rolling and cutting out shapes is easier and less sticky.

Step 5: Roll, Cut, and Chill the Cookies Before Baking

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll out one dough half on a floured surface to about ½ inch thick. Use your gingerbread man cookie cutter to cut shapes and space them on the baking sheets. Chill the cut cookies in the fridge for 5 minutes before baking—you’ll be amazed at how much better they hold their shape this way.

Step 6: Bake and Cool

Bake for 8 to 11 minutes depending on cookie size. Look for cookies that are set in the center and barely spring back when touched gently; underbaking slightly is better for chewiness. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.

Top Tip

After trying several versions, I’ve learned that chilling the dough twice—once before rolling and once after cutting shapes—makes all the difference in handling and appearance, giving you clean edges that bake evenly without spreading too much.

Twice-Chilled Dough: Helps prevent cookie spreading, keeping their cute gingerbread man shape intact.
Light Flour Dusting: Use just enough flour to keep dough from sticking but not so much that it dries out your cookies.
Watch Your Bake Time: Pull cookies out just as centers set to ensure soft edges and chewy centers.
Proper Cooling: Always cool on a rack to avoid soggy bottoms.

How to Serve Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe

gingerbread man cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love decorating these cookies with simple royal icing made from powdered sugar and milk—you can keep it white or add food coloring for fun. Mini chocolate chips, colorful sprinkles, and little candy buttons add personality to each gingerbread person, making it a delightful activity for kids and adults alike.

Side Dishes

Serve these cookies alongside a warm mug of spiced cider, hot cocoa, or your favorite holiday coffee. For gatherings, I’ve paired them with a cheese board featuring sharp cheddar and sliced apples, which surprisingly complements the cookies’ sweetness wonderfully.

Creative Ways to Present

During holiday parties, I arrange these Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe treats standing up in mason jars or decorated boxes for a festive display. You can also string them with ribbon through a small hole before baking to create edible ornaments—just remember to use sturdy dough and bake fully!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I like to keep leftover cookies in an airtight container between sheets of parchment paper at room temperature. This keeps them fresh for about a week. They'll slowly firm up but can be softened by warming slightly before eating.

Freezing

Freezing is great if you want to bake ahead for the holidays. After cooling, I freeze the cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer them to freezer bags. They hold beautifully for up to 3 months and thaw quickly at room temperature.

Reheating

To refresh cookies after freezing, pop them in a warm oven at 300°F (150°C) for 5 minutes. This brings back that freshly baked softness without drying them out. You can also microwave a cookie for about 10 seconds if you're in a rush.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use light molasses instead of dark molasses in this Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe?

While you can use light molasses, dark molasses provides a richer, more robust flavor that’s classic for gingerbread cookies. Using light molasses will result in a milder taste.

How do I prevent my gingerbread cookies from spreading too much?

The key to preventing spreading is chilling the dough twice: once before rolling and again after cutting out shapes. Using cold baking sheets and ensuring your butter isn't too warm also helps.

Can I make this dough ahead and freeze it?

Absolutely! After mixing the dough, wrap it tightly in plastic and freeze for up to a month. Thaw in the fridge overnight before rolling out and cutting shapes.

What’s the best way to decorate these gingerbread men?

Royal icing made of powdered sugar and milk is a classic choice for decorating. You can add food coloring to customize or use simple candies like mini chocolate chips and sprinkles for eyes, buttons, and other fun details.

Final Thoughts

This Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe isn’t just about baking; it’s about creating memories sprinkled with spice and sweetness. Whether you’re rolling dough on a chilly afternoon or decorating with laughter and icing-covered fingers, these cookies bring a bit of magic to your kitchen. I’m excited for you to try them out – I promise, these gingerbread men will quickly become a cherished part of your holiday traditions!