Easy Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe

This easy Gingerbread Man Cookies recipe creates soft, flavorful cookies that hold their shape beautifully when baked! Topped with a simple homemade icing, they’re perfect for Christmas cookie exchanges, holiday baking days, edible gifts, or making sweet memories with family and friends!

Homemade Gingerbread Man Cookies!

I was born with a tremor in both of my hands. It doesn’t really set me back, except for when it comes to doing detailed things like decorating these Gingerbread Man Cookies. I love doing things like this so I don’t avoid it, but it does take me a lot longer to do than the average person.

As I waited for the icing to harden I kept asking my husband and son if they thought they looked okay. Because my hands aren’t steady it’s hard to control the amount of icing that comes out and it’s especially hard to make straight lines. I was feeling discouraged because I had looked at pictures of other cookies online to get design ideas and their cookies were so stunningly perfect! I felt like I missed the mark.

My husband said my cookies looked beautiful and my son said, “Mom, it doesn’t matter what they look like. It matters what they taste like and those are FANTASTIC!” I love my boys so very much, they are so complimenting of me – even when I know they are just trying to flatter me. And that’s okay with me.

I finally came to terms with my imperfectly decorated cookies because if I do say so myself, they really are the very best Gingerbread Cookies I have ever tasted in my life!

Why this Recipe Works:

• Rich Molasses Flavor – Gives these Gingerbread Man Cookies their classic holiday taste while keeping the cookies soft and moist.
• The Sturdy Dough Rolls Out Beautifully – And holds its shape well, making it ideal for gingerbread men, stars, trees, snowflakes, and other festive cookie cutters.
• Perfect for Holiday Baking Traditions – These are easy to decorate, share at cookie exchanges, package as gifts, or enjoy with family during the Christmas season.

Ingredients You’ll Need for the Cookie Dough:

• 1 cup Butter (Softened) – Creates a rich flavor and tender texture while helping the cookies stay soft and easy to roll out.
• 1 cup Sugar – Adds sweetness and helps give the cookies their classic crisp edges.
• 1 Egg – Binds the ingredients together and provides structure for the dough.
• 1 cup Light Molasses – Gives gingerbread its signature deep flavor, moisture, and beautiful brown color.
• 2 tbsp White Vinegar – Reacts with the baking soda to help create a softer cookie texture.
• 5 cups Flour – Forms the base of the dough and provides the structure needed for cutting and shaping the cookies.
• 1 1/2 tsp Baking Soda – Helps the cookies rise slightly and keeps them from becoming too dense.
• 1/2 tsp Salt – Balances the sweetness and enhances the warm spice flavors.
• 2 tsp Ground Ginger – The star spice that gives gingerbread its classic warm, slightly spicy taste.
• 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon – Adds sweetness and warmth to compliment the ginger.
• 1 tsp Ground Cloves – Provides a rich, aromatic flavor that gives gingerbread its traditional holiday taste.

And the Icing:

• 3 cups Powdered Sugar – Creates a smooth, sweet icing that is perfect for decorating.
• 4 tbsp Milk – Thins the icing to the right consistency for piping and spreading.
• 2 tbsp Light Corn Syrup – Adds shine and helps the icing set with a smooth finish while remaining easy to work with.

How to Make Gingerbread Man Cookies from Scratch

NOTE: Using this same recipe, you can make Gingerbread Snowflake Cookies. This cookie dough requires chilling.

1. Add 1 cup softened butter and 1 cup sugar to a large bowl and beat until well combined and fluffy. Add 1 egg, 1 cup light molasses, and 2 tbsp white vinegar and beat until well combined. The mixture will look curdled.
2. In a separate medium size bowl, whisk together 5 cups flour, 1 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 tsp ground ginger, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, and 1 tsp ground cloves. Then pour into the wet batter and beat until well combined.
3. Refrigerate dough covered for 1 hour.
4. When the dough is done chilling, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
5. Working in sections, roll the dough to 1/2 inch thick on floured countertop.
6. Cut into Gingerbread Man shapes.
7. Place onto parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake for 9-11 minutes. Let cookies cool on the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack.
8. Repeat with remaining dough.
9. Once cooled, make the icing by beating together 3 cups powdered sugar, 4 tbsp milk, and 2 tbsp light corn syrup. The icing is the thickness you need when it drips off the beaters and holds its shape for several seconds before dissolving back into the rest of the icing. If it’s too thick, add a little milk. If it’s too thin, add a little powdered sugar.
10. Transfer to a piping bottle and draw desired designs onto the cookies.

More Christmas Cookies:

• The Best Christmas Cutout Sugar Cookies
• White Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies
• Christmas Peanut Butter Blossoms
• Gingersnap Cookies
• Chewy Sugar Cookies