Description
Delightful soft and chewy gingerbread men cookies with rich flavors of ginger, cloves, and cinnamon, perfect for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
- 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (plus more for rolling out the dough)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons ground ginger
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened (1 1/2 sticks)
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar (packed)
- 1/2 cup molasses
- 1 large egg (room temperature)
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 4 tablespoons warm water
- 2 tablespoons meringue powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- Sprinkles of your choice
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt.
- In another bowl, cream together the softened butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Mix in the molasses and egg until well combined.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms. Divide the dough into two discs, wrap in plastic, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). On a floured surface, roll out one disc of dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out gingerbread men shapes using cookie cutters and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are firm. Allow the cookies to cool on the sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
- For the royal icing, whisk together powdered sugar, warm water, meringue powder, and cream of tartar until smooth. Decorate your cooled cookies as desired and finish with sprinkles.
Notes
For a different flavor, substitute molasses with honey or use gluten-free flour if needed. Ensure royal icing is fully set before freezing decorated cookies.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American