Are you ready for the Best Gingerbread Man Cookies? This gingerbread man cookie recipe makes the perfect Christmas Cookie for family and friends!
If you love Holiday cookies like we do, try our BEST Sugar Cookie Recipe too!
Gingerbread Man Cookies
Gingerbread man cookies are a must during your Holiday baking! It’s so fun to make dozens and dozens to decorate and surprise your friends and neighbors with. My recipe is simple to prepare, holds its’ shape and I’ve got a great icing recipe to decorate with ease.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Perfectly Festive. This gingerbread man cookie recipe makes the perfect cookie for the Holidays!
- Easy To Follow Instructions. With my step by step photos and instructions, you’ll have no trouble making this gingerbread man recipe.
- Great For Gifting! This gingerbread man cookie recipe looks so cute wrapped in cellophane and a bow perfect for gifting to family and friends.
Follow Picky Palate on Instagram for daily recipe inspiration.
What You’ll Need
Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make gingerbread man cookies at home. See the recipe card located at the bottom of the page for full instructions and details.
- Butter– For most of my recipes I use salted butter. Unsalted is fine as well.
- Light Brown Sugar– brown sugar gives the cookies their sweetness.
- Molasses– Molasses is found in the baking section of the grocery store. It gives gingerbread cookies that gingerbread flavor.
- Large Eggs– For consistency, I use large eggs for my baking.
- All-Purpose Flour– Flour is the main dry ingredient in the cookies.
- Baking Soda– Baking soda helps the cookies rise slightly during baking.
- Kosher Salt– This coarse salt is found next to the table salt in the baking isle of the grocery store.
- Ground Cinnamon– Cinnamon is a spice added to gingerbread cookie recipes.
- Ground Ginger– Ground ginger is another spice added to gingerbread cookie recipes.
- Powdered Sugar– Also referred to as confectioners sugar. This sugar is used to make the icing.
- Milk– Use 2% milk for best results.
- Light Corn Syrup– Corn syrup can be found in the baking section of the grocery store. It is used to help make the icing.
Gingerbread Man Cookie Cutter
You can find a gingerbread man cookie cutter at most kitchen stores. They come in a number of sizes. I also like to order my gingerbread man cookie cutter options from Amazon. Lots of choices.
How To Make Gingerbread Man Cookies
Cream Butter and Sugars. Place butter and brown sugar into stand mixer. Beat until light and fluffy.
Wet Ingredients. Add molasses, then eggs and water, beating until combined.
Dry Ingredients. Slowly add flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and ginger until dough forms.
Divide Dough. Divide dough in half and wrap in plastic wrap.
Refrigerate Dough. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours or overnight until ready to roll. I also will flash freeze my dough for 30 minutes if ready to use immediately.
Preheat Oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
Four Your Countertops and Rolling Pin. When you’re ready to roll your dough, be generous with the flour. Flour your countertops/parchment, rolling pin and top of dough.
Roll Out and Cut Shapes From Dough. Roll dough into 1/4 inch thick round, cut gingerbread man shapes nice and close to each other so you can have maximum cookies in each roll. shapes and transfer to a parchment lined cookie sheet.
Bake. Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are firm and golden. Let cool on cookie sheet or cooling rack if desired. When cooled, decorate as desired.
Ice Cookies. Use my Gingerbread Man Icing recipe to decorate your cookies. Let icing dry for at least 3 hours before packaging.
Recipe Tips For Success
- Use Quality Ingredients. For best tasting results use fresh, good quality ingredients for your cookies.
- Refrigerate Dough. Don’t skip refrigerating the dough. This helps keep the shape of the cookies.
- Doesn’t Have To Be Perfect. Don’t be afraid of decorating the cookies. They do not have to be perfect. They look adorable with simple icing.
How To Serve
Serve cookies on a plate or in individual bags for family, friends, neighbors.
Leftovers
Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days.
You Might Also Like
The Best Gingerbread Man Cookies
Equipment
- Oven
- Bowl
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- mixing bowl or stand mixer
- mixing spoons
- ziplock baggies to use as little piping bags
Ingredients
- 1 Cup/2 sticks butter softened I use salted butter
- 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
- 2/3 cup molasses
- 2 large eggs
- 4 tablespoons water
- 5 1/3 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
Gingerbread Man Icing
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 3 1/2 teaspoons milk
- 2 teaspoons light corn syrup
Instructions
- Place butter and brown sugar into stand mixer. Beat until light and fluffy. Add molasses, then eggs and water, beating until combined. Slowly add flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and ginger until dough forms. Divide dough in half and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour or overnight until ready to roll. I also will flash freeze my dough for 15 minutes if ready to use immediately.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Roll dough into 1/4 inch thick round, cut gingerbread man shapes and transfer to a parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are firm and golden. Let cool on cookie sheet or cooling rack if desired. When cooled, decorate as desired.
- To prepare icing place powdered sugar into a medium mixing bowl. Stir in milk until smooth then add corn syrup beating until smooth. Divide icing into bowls and add food coloring as desired. Dip or paint cookies with a brush. Let dry completely before packaging.This recipe makes enough for one color. Double or triple as needed for your sugar cookies.
Notes
Nutrition
Pin To Your Favorite Recipe Board
Welcome to my online kitchen! Picky Palate is where you’ll find family friendly recipes along with the best Disney eats, tips and copycat recipes! 
First time ever making gingerbread cookies and it came out so good! Came out soft and delicious and just the right amount of flavor. I just added nutmeg and grounded cloves. Thanks so much for this recipe:)
Five stars for sure!
We made these last night and they were perfect. They were soft, but still held their shape. Easy to make, and just the right amount of spices and flavor. They were a big hit with our kids that are normally “picky eaters”.
So I know everyone says their recipe is “the best” but I can safely state, your sugar cookies are THE BEST. And they make a ton so you can freeze all the leftovers and eat them straight from the freezer! Or so I hear… anyway, cannot wait to try this recipe!
I love gingerbread cookies! These look amazing!