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This soft gingerbread man recipe is all you need for holiday fun! The cookies are soft but sturdy, never taste like cardboard, and are perfect for decorating.
Soft but hold their shape beautifully, easy to make but taste like they came from a bakery, these easy soft gingerbread cookies might just become your new holiday tradition.
They have all the classic cozy spice flavors of the nostalgic Christmas cookie, but they’re wonderfully soft inside and crispy on the edges, so every bite leaves you wanting more!
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Time to go beyond the traditional Christmas cookies and bake something Santa will really remember! Start with our favorite holiday cookie recipes: Betty Crocker peanut butter blossom cookies and Christmas reindeer cookies.
Why You’ll Love This Soft Gingerbread Man Recipe
- This soft gingerbread men recipe makes deliciously soft, classic Christmas cookies that hold their shape beautifully, perfect for parties and gifting.
- Full of cozy gingerbread flavor and finished with creamy icing, this is the best gingerbread cookie recipe to capture everything we love about the holiday season!
- This gingerbread cookie recipe is fun and easy to make ahead, so you can get a head start on your Christmas desserts.
Ingredients
Light brown sugar – This easy gingerbread cookie recipe tastes best with brown sugar, which complements the spices perfectly. We haven’t experimented with liquid sweeteners, such as maple syrup.
Unsalted butter – Using butter helps you get soft gingerbread man cookies with slightly crisp edges!
Egg – For binding the ingredients together.
Apple cider vinegar – Tenderizes the dough for better texture.
Molasses – For that signature robust sweetness. Use unsulphured molasses for a smooth flavor! Blackstrap molasses might make the soft gingerbread men taste bitter.
Pure vanilla extract and salt – Our flavor enhancers in this easy soft gingerbread recipe.
All-purpose flour – For structure.
Baking soda – To help the cookie dough rise.
Ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, ground allspice, and ground nutmeg – Can’t make soft gingerbread men cookies without these warm holiday spices!
Icing – For decorating the molasses cookies.
Ingredient Substitutions For Easy Soft Gingerbread Cookies
Vegan Butter
This soft gingerbread cookies recipe is not vegan since it uses an egg. But for a dairy-free version, just use plant-based butter.
Glaze
Instead of decorating each cookie with a piping bag, try dunking these easy gingerbread cookies in a delicious glaze to save time! Just mix 2 cups powdered sugar, 6 tablespoons milk, 1 tablespoon corn syrup, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt.
Dark brown sugar
Use dark brown sugar in your gingerbread man cookie recipe if you want deeper flavor and color!
Tips For Making This Recipe
Chill the Dough
Don’t skip chilling the dough. It makes rolling easier, keeps the cookies from spreading too much, and helps the flavors of our easy soft gingerbread cookies develop beautifully!
Delicious Cookie Decorating Ideas
Why stop at royal icing? This soft gingerbread man recipe is the perfect holiday baking project to get creative with. Try buttercream frosting for a richer flavor and fun 3D details, or use melted white chocolate for something simple but delicious.
Experiment with Cookie Cutter Sizes
The number of cookies you get from this homemade gingerbread recipe depends on your cookie cutters. Small gingerbread men are adorable for gifts, while big ones give you plenty of space to get creative with!
Soft Gingerbread Cookies Recipe FAQs
What does gingerbread taste like?
The best gingerbread cookies are sweet, spiced, and full of rich molasses flavor.
Should gingerbread cookies be hard or soft?
Gingerbread cookies, like these cut-out gingerbread men, are soft. However, gingerbread cookies can come in many forms! Some are firm, others chewy, and some are even crispy.
What makes gingerbread hard or soft?
How you roll the dough affects whether your gingerbread cookies turn out soft or firm. For soft, yummy gingerbread cookies, roll the dough thick. If you want them firmer or crispier, roll thinner and bake a bit longer.
How to store gingerbread men?
This soft gingerbread man recipe is perfect for make-ahead because you can store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. You can also store the dough in the fridge for up to 4 days!
Can you freeze gingerbread cookies?
Of course! You can keep soft gingerbread cookies in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 weeks. However, if you prefer to freeze the dough, wrap it in plastic wrap, place it in a freezer bag, and store it in the freezer for up to 2 months. You can bake it straight from frozen!
More Delicious Christmas Recipe
- White Chocolate Dipped Cookies
- Christmas Muffins
- Strawberry Filled Cupcakes
- Christmas Pretzels
- Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board
I found this recipe for Reindeer Cookies that I HAVE to try!
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Soft Gingerbread Man Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup molasses
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp ground ginger
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp ground allspice
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- Icing for decorating
Instructions
- Gather the ingredients for your gingerbread cookies.
- Beat the brown sugar and butter on medium-high speed.
- Add the egg, vinegar, molasses, and vanilla extract. Mix on medium-low until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. Add them to the wet mixture and mix on low until a dough forms. Avoid overmixing.
- Divide the dough in half and wrap each piece in plastic wrap. Flatten them into discs and chill for 3 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly dust your work surface with flour.
- Line your baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Roll out each dough disc to about 1/4 inch thick. Cut into gingerbread men. You can re-roll the scraps so nothing goes to waste.
- Arrange the cookies about an inch apart on the lined cookie sheets.
- Bake for 6 to 14 minutes, depending on the size of the cookie. Medium-sized gingerbread men usually bake in about 8 to 10 minutes.
- To check if they’re done, gently touch the center of a cookie. If it springs back, they’re ready.
- Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Decorate with icing. Have fun and get creative!
Notes
- Don’t skip chilling the dough. It makes rolling easier, keeps the cookies from spreading too much, and helps the flavors of our easy soft gingerbread cookies develop beautifully!
- Why stop at royal icing? This soft gingerbread man recipe is the perfect holiday baking project to get creative with. Try buttercream frosting for a richer flavor and fun 3D details, or use melted white chocolate for something simple but delicious.
- The number of cookies you get from this homemade gingerbread recipe depends on your cookie cutters. Small gingerbread men are adorable for gifts, while big ones give you plenty of space to get creative with!
Nutrition
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