Gingerbread Man Recipe

Mak Erot

3 min read

·

Apr 02, 2025

22

Share

The Perfect Gingerbread Man Recipe: A Festive Holiday Treat

The aroma of gingerbread spices fills the air, conjuring images of cozy nights and holiday cheer. This isn't just any gingerbread man recipe; it's the recipe to achieve perfectly crisp edges, a delightfully chewy interior, and a flavour that's intensely spiced and utterly irresistible. Get ready to bake up a batch of gingerbread men that will be the star of your holiday cookie platter!

Ingredients You'll Need:

This recipe provides the perfect balance of spice and sweetness. Gather these ingredients before you begin:

• For the Gingerbread Dough:

  • 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 ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

• For Decorating:

  • Royal icing (recipe below)
  • Sprinkles, candies, or other desired decorations

Instructions: A Step-by-Step Guide to Gingerbread Perfection

Follow these simple steps to create delicious gingerbread men your family will adore:

1. Creaming the Butter and Sugar:

• Begin by creaming together the softened butter and brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step is crucial for achieving a tender crumb. Use an electric mixer for best results.

2. Adding the Wet Ingredients:

• Beat in the molasses and egg until well combined. The batter will be dark and rich.

3. Incorporating the Dry Ingredients:

• In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, and salt.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix. Overmixing will develop the gluten in the flour, resulting in tough gingerbread men.

4. Chilling the Dough:

• This is a critical step! Form the dough into a disc, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or preferably overnight. Chilling the dough prevents it from spreading too much during baking.

5. Rolling and Cutting:

• Once chilled, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly flour your work surface and roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness.
• Use gingerbread man cookie cutters to cut out your shapes. Re-roll the scraps to minimize waste.

6. Baking to Golden Perfection:

• Place the cut-out gingerbread men onto ungreased baking sheets.
• Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are set and slightly firm. The centers may still be soft.
• Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Royal Icing Recipe: For Exquisite Decoration

This easy royal icing recipe is perfect for decorating your gingerbread men:

• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 3-4 tablespoons meringue powder
• 6-8 tablespoons water
• Food coloring (optional)

Instructions:

1. Whisk together powdered sugar and meringue powder.
2. Gradually add water, mixing until smooth and glossy.
3. Add food coloring, if desired.
4. Transfer to a piping bag or ziplock bag with a corner snipped off.
5. Decorate your cooled gingerbread men!

Tips for Gingerbread Success:

• Don't overbake! Slightly underbaked gingerbread men will be chewier.
• Use fresh spices for the best flavor.
• Get creative with decorations! Use different candies, sprinkles, and icing techniques.

Enjoy the process of making these delightful gingerbread men, and savor the sweet rewards of your baking efforts! Happy Holidays!