Gingerbread Men
Quick answer
Gingerbread men are spiced cookies shaped like small figures, made from a dough enriched with molasses, ground ginger, cinnamon, and cloves.
What makes this special
- Spiced holiday cookies flavored with ginger and molasses for a firm, snap-like texture.
- Molasses adds brown color and a bittersweet heavy sweetness to the dough
- 24-hour rest in the refrigerator spreads spice flavors evenly through the dough
Key ingredients
Core cooking flow
- 1 Let 100 g unsalted butter soften, then cream it with 90 g brown sugar for 2 to 3 minutes.
- 2 Add 1 egg and mix until evenly blended, then pour in 70 ml molasses gradually.
- 3 Add 280 g all-purpose flour, 2 tsp ground ginger, and 1 tsp ground cinnamon, then fold with a spatula.
Gingerbread men are spiced cookies shaped like small figures, made from a dough enriched with molasses, ground ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. The molasses contributes a deep amber color and a bitter undertone that distinguishes these cookies from simpler butter cookies, while the spice blend delivers a warmth that builds gently across the palate. Chilling the dough for at least one hour before rolling ensures it holds its shape through cutting and baking, so the finished cookies emerge with crisp, defined edges rather than rounded, puffy outlines. Once fully cooled, royal icing piped into eyes, mouths, and buttons turns each cookie into a small edible character. The ideal texture balances a snappy bite at the rim with a slightly chewy center that keeps the cookie from crumbling apart. Stored in a sealed container, the cookies improve over a day or two as the spice flavors meld and deepen. The recipe is simple enough for children to help with shaping and decorating, making it a fixture of winter holiday baking in many households.
Instructions
Read the steps as a cooking flow: prep, heat, seasoning, doneness control, and finish.
- 1Season
Let 100 g unsalted butter soften, then cream it with 90 g brown sugar for 2 to 3 minutes.
Mix until the color lightens slightly and the sugar grains feel less coarse.
- 2Prep
Add 1 egg and mix until evenly blended, then pour in 70 ml molasses gradually.
If the mixture looks split, scrape down the bowl and mix again until it turns smooth and glossy.
- 3Heat
Add 280 g all-purpose flour, 2 tsp ground ginger, and 1 tsp ground cinnamon, then fold with a spatula.
Stop as soon as no dry flour remains so the cookies do not turn tough.
- 4Step
Flatten the dough into a disk, wrap it, and chill it for at least 1 hour.
It is ready to roll when it sticks less to your hands and slowly yields when pressed.
- 5Heat
Lightly flour the work surface and roll the dough to an even thickness.
Cut out figure shapes and place them spaced apart on the baking tray so the edges stay clear as they bake.
- 6Heat
Bake at 175C for 10-12 minutes, until the edges feel lightly firm.
Let the cookies rest on the tray briefly, then move them to cool completely before adding any icing decoration.
After the steps
Pick a recipe that fits this dish.
Continue with shared ingredients, meal pairings, or a similar method.
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