Gingerbread man cookies

By Julia Bevilacqua, 2024

Published 12/2/2023

A favorite Holiday memory shared by millions worldwide is making gingerbread man cookies and decorating them with the whole family. This tradition is a great way to bring everyone together for a few hours of holiday cheer. The recipe below is from Tastes Better From Scratch, to make the most delicious gingerbread cookies you will ever have. The spices are just right and the cookie is crispy on the outside, but light and chewy on the inside. 

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 molasses (dark molasses)

• 2 Tablespoons milk

For the frosting:

• 2 Tablespoons butter, room temperature

• 2 cups powdered sugar

• 2 Tablespoons milk

Instructions: 

1. Add the flour, brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves to a mixing bowl, and mix. 

2. Add the butter pieces to a pastry blender and cut until the butter looks like a fine meal

3. Grab a stand mixer, add the molasses and milk to the flour mixture, and mix until combined on a low speed (about 30 seconds). 

4. Divide the dough in half and wrap it in plastic wrap, place it in the fridge for two hours or overnight. If you are in a hurry you can place it in the freezer for about 20 minutes or until the dough is firm. 

5. Preheat the oven to 350℉ and line a baking sheet with parchment paper

6. Take out one of the balls of dough and roll it out on the counter (with a little flour on the counter/rolling pin if needed) until the dough is ½ inch thick. 

7. Cut the Gingerbread men shape out and put them back in the fridge for five minutes

8. Repeat steps 6-7 on the second ball of dough

9. Bake the cookies for 8-11 minutes (depending on the size of the cookie cutter). Do not overbake!!

For the frosting: 

1. Add butter, milk, and 1 cup of powdered sugar to a bowl

2. Mix until smooth 

3. Add the second cup of powdered sugar 

4. Mix until smooth