The Perfect Gingerbread Man Cookie Recipe: A Festive Holiday Treat
The aroma of gingerbread spices fills the air, a sure sign that the holidays are near! This year, ditch the store-bought cookies and embark on a baking adventure with our foolproof gingerbread man recipe. It's guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser, perfect for decorating with family and friends, and delicious enough to make everyone ask for seconds (and thirds!).
Ingredients You'll Need:
This recipe yields approximately 24 gingerbread men cookies. Adjust accordingly if you need more (or less!) festive fun.
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For the Cookies:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1 large egg
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
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For Decorating:
- Royal icing (recipe below)
- Assorted sprinkles, candies, and other decorations
Making the Magic: A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Preparing the Dough
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper. This prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze!
- In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. A stand mixer makes this step super easy, but a good old-fashioned hand mixer works just fine too.
- Beat in the molasses and egg until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix!
Step 2: Shaping Your Gingerbread Men
- Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness. For even thickness, use a rolling pin with guides.
- Use gingerbread man cookie cutters (or any festive shape you like!) to cut out your cookies.
- Place the cookies onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about an inch of space between each.
Step 3: Baking to Perfection
- Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown. Keep a close eye on them, as oven temperatures can vary!
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This prevents them from breaking.
Royal Icing Recipe: The Finishing Touch
This simple royal icing is perfect for decorating your gingerbread men.
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 3-4 tablespoons meringue powder (this helps with consistency)
- 6-8 tablespoons water
Whisk all ingredients together until smooth and creamy. You can divide the icing into different bowls and add food coloring to create a variety of festive colors.
Tips for Gingerbread Success:
- Chill the dough: For easier handling, chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before rolling and cutting. This prevents it from spreading too much in the oven.
- Don't overbake: Overbaked gingerbread men will be dry and hard. Start checking them at the 8-minute mark.
- Get creative with decorations: Let your imagination run wild! Use different colors of icing, sprinkles, candies, and even edible markers to personalize your gingerbread men.
This recipe is a guaranteed success. Enjoy baking and have fun decorating these delicious and festive gingerbread men cookies! Happy holidays!
