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Soft & Chewy Gingerbread Men Cookies

These delightful gingerbread men cookies are soft, chewy, and beautifully decorated, making them the perfect festive treat for the holiday season.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American, Holiday
Calories: 120
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Dry Ingredients
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger Use fresh ground ginger for best flavor.
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon Use fresh ground cinnamon for best flavor.
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg Use fresh ground nutmeg for best flavor.
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
  • ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened Make sure to use softened butter for easy mixing.
  • 1 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 large egg Use large eggs for best results.
  • ½ cup molasses Can substitute with honey or maple syrup if needed.
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For Decoration
  • Royal icing for decoration (optional) Decorate as desired.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
  2. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, baking soda, and salt.
  3. In a separate large bowl, beat the softened butter and brown sugar together until creamy and fluffy.
  4. Add the egg, molasses, and vanilla extract to the butter mixture, mixing until well combined.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix until you have a soft dough.
  6. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.
Baking
  1. Once chilled, roll out the dough to about ¼ inch thick and cut out gingerbread men shapes.
  2. Transfer the cookies to the prepared baking sheet and bake for about 8-10 minutes.
  3. Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
  4. Decorate with royal icing if desired.

Notes

Use fresh spices for the best flavor. Don't skip refrigerating the dough to prevent spreading during baking. Store cookies in an airtight container to maintain softness.