Name: Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 11 min
Total time: 36 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour; 3/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed; 3/4 teaspoon baking soda; 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon; 1 tablespoon ground ginger; 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 12 tablespoons butter, room temperature, cut into 12 pieces; 3/4 cup dark molasses; 2 tablespoons milk; 2 tablespoons butter, room temperature; 2 cups powdered sugar; 2 tablespoons milk

There’s something simply magical about the holidays that calls for cozy baking—and these delightful Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe are exactly that kind of magic. Soft, chewy, and perfectly spiced, they fill your kitchen with a warm, nostalgic scent that'll make you want to bake them again and again.

A close-up of a gingerbread cookie shaped like a gingerbread man is held by two small hands. The cookie has a deep brown color with a slightly rough texture. The gingerbread man has three round buttons in the middle - one blue, one red, and one yellow, each edged with white icing. White icing forms two round eyes and a smiling mouth on the head. The arms and legs are decorated with zigzag white icing lines. In the background, several blurred gingerbread men lay flat on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’m genuinely excited to share this Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe because it nails that perfect balance of tender chewiness and bold spice flavor. Plus, it’s straightforward enough that even if you’re new to cookie baking, success is almost guaranteed.

Classic Flavor: The blend of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves creates a timeless taste that instantly evokes holiday cheer.
Soft & Chewy Texture: These aren’t your crunchy gingerbread biscuits—they’re tender and perfect for decorating or munching right away.
Easy to Work With Dough: The dough chills quickly and rolls out nicely without too much fuss.
Great for Decorating: Whether you like simple icing or elaborate designs, these cookies hold their shape and look adorable.

Nine gingerbread cookies shaped like little people are placed in rows on a white marbled surface. Each cookie has a light brown color with a smooth texture and is decorated with white icing that forms two small dots for eyes, a curved smile, zigzag patterns on the arms near the shoulders, and zigzags at the bottom of each leg. Each gingerbread person wears three round colorful candy buttons down the center of their body, with colors like red, blue, yellow, green, orange, and purple. The cookies are evenly spaced and aligned in three rows of three. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient plays its part in crafting these flavorful gingerbread men. The mix of spices brings seasonal warmth, while molasses adds deep, chewy richness. Here’s a quick glance at the key players and why they matter for your cookie success.

Flat lay of a small mound of all-purpose flour, a small mound of dark brown sugar, a small white ceramic bowl with baking soda powder, two small white ceramic bowls—one with ground cinnamon and one with ground ginger, another small white bowl with ground cloves, a small white bowl with salt, twelve small pieces of butter with a rich creamy color arranged neatly, a small white ceramic bowl filled with dark molasses, two small white bowls containing milk, and a larger white ceramic bowl filled with powdered sugar, all placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

All-purpose flour: Provides the sturdy base and ensures a texture that’s just right—not too cakey, not too crisp.
Dark brown sugar: Packed with molasses, it intensifies sweetness and moisture.
Baking soda: Helps the cookies rise slightly and keeps the texture tender.
Ground cinnamon, ginger, and cloves: The holy trinity of gingerbread spices—don’t shy away from fresh or high-quality versions for the best flavor.
Salt: Balances sweetness and amplifies all the spices.
Butter (room temperature): Gives richness and aids in that melt-in-your-mouth feeling.
Dark molasses: Our flavor superstar, molasses adds moisture, depth, and that unmistakable gingerbread character.
Milk: Just enough to bring the dough together smoothly without making it sticky.
Powdered sugar: For the frosting—adds sweetness without graininess and smooths beautifully.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love how this Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe gives you room to play around. Sometimes I swap out half the molasses for honey to tone down the intensity, or add a touch of orange zest to the dough for a fresh twist. You should try whatever makes your taste buds happy!

Variation: Once, I sprinkled a bit of coarse sugar on the dough before baking—it added a subtle sparkle and crunch my family adored.
Diet-friendly tweaks: You can experiment with gluten-free flour blends if you need a gluten-free version; just keep an eye on dough consistency.
Seasonal changes: Substituting cloves with nutmeg or allspice changes the aroma up nicely, especially if you want to switch things up year to year.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Mix the Dry Ingredients and Cut in the Butter

Start by combining your flour, brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt in a large bowl. Then, add the butter cut into small pieces. I use a pastry blender to cut the butter evenly into the dry mixture until it resembles fine meal—this helps create that tender but firm cookie texture later.

Step 2: Add Molasses and Milk and Chill the Dough

With your mixer running on low, slowly add the molasses and milk. Mix until everything is just combined; usually about 30 seconds does the trick. Next, divide the dough into two balls, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, and chill for at least two hours or overnight. Don’t skip chilling—it’s mandatory! It firms up the dough so it’s manageable and rolls out smoothly.

Step 3: Roll Out and Cut Your Cookies

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly flour your countertop and rolling pin, then roll one dough ball out to about half an inch thick. Use your Gingerbread Man cookie cutter to cut shapes—this part always brings out the kid in me! Place the cutouts on parchment-lined baking sheets and pop them back in the fridge for 5 minutes to firm up a bit.

Step 4: Bake and Cool

Bake your cookies for 8 to 11 minutes, depending on their size. They’re done when the centers are set but still soft enough that a gentle touch barely leaves an imprint. Be careful not to overbake—it's better to err on the side of soft cookies since they’ll firm up while cooling. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely before decorating.

Top Tip

Having baked gingerbread cookies countless times, here are a few tricks that really saved me from frustration and helped make these cookies shine every time.

Chill Thoroughly: I once tried skipping the refrigeration and ended up with sticky, unmanageable dough. Don’t do what I did—chilling is key.
Flour Your Surface Generously: Helps prevent sticking but don’t overdo it or your cookies get dry. I keep some extra flour nearby to dust the dough and rolling pin lightly.
Watch the Oven Closely: Baking times can vary; the cookies should be firm but not browned heavily. I start checking around the 8-minute mark.
Cool Completely Before Frosting: I can’t stress this enough—warm cookies melt your icing and create a mess instead of a pretty design.

How to Serve Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe

gingerbread man cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I adore decorating these gingerbread men with classic royal icing—smooth and bright white icing that’s easy to pipe on little smiles, buttons, and scarves. Sometimes I add mini candy pieces or colored sugar sprinkles for a festive touch. It’s fun, and they always disappear fastest on the cookie trays!

Side Dishes

These cookies pair wonderfully with a hot cup of spiced chai tea or creamy eggnog if you’re feeling indulgent. At holiday parties, I like serving them alongside whipped cream-topped hot chocolate—it’s like a nostalgic winter hug in a snack form.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday gatherings, I’ve presented these gingerbread men on a platter arranged with fresh rosemary sprigs and cranberries—it looks festive and smells incredible. Wrapping a few in clear cellophane tied with a red ribbon turns them into charming homemade gifts that everyone appreciates.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you have leftovers, store your gingerbread cookies in an airtight container layered with parchment paper to prevent sticking. They keep well at room temperature for up to a week. I find that leaving a slice of bread in the container helps maintain some moisture and keeps them soft longer.

Freezing

I often freeze unbaked dough balls wrapped in plastic wrap and stored in a freezer bag. When I want fresh cookies, I thaw the dough in the fridge overnight and bake as usual. Baked cookies freeze beautifully too—just pop them in a sealed container with parchment between layers and thaw at room temperature.

Reheating

To refresh frozen-baked cookies, I gently warm them in a low oven (about 300°F) for 5 minutes. This brings back that freshly baked softness without drying them out. Just be sure to let them cool slightly before decorating or serving.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use light molasses instead of dark molasses?

While light molasses will work, dark molasses gives a richer, more complex flavor that’s characteristic of traditional gingerbread. I recommend sticking to dark molasses if possible for that classic taste.

How do I keep the cookies from spreading too much in the oven?

Make sure your dough is well chilled before rolling and cutting out the cookies. Also, try not to overwork the dough, as excess warmth from your hands can make the butter too soft, causing spreading. Baking sheets lined with parchment paper help cookies bake evenly without excessive spreading.

Can I decorate these cookies with royal icing?

Absolutely! Royal icing works wonderfully with this gingerbread dough because the cookies hold their shape well and have a sturdy surface. Just be sure your cookies are fully cooled before decorating to avoid melting the icing.

What’s the best way to make the dough if I’m short on time?

If you’re in a hurry, pop the dough in the freezer for about 20 minutes instead of chilling it overnight. This firms up the dough quickly and makes it easier to roll and cut. But don’t skip chilling altogether — the dough will be too sticky otherwise.

Final Thoughts

Making this Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe has always been one of my favorite traditions—there’s just something so satisfying about mixing those fragrant spices, rolling out the dough, and decorating cute little gingerbread men with loved ones. I hope you feel that same joy and warmth when you bake these cookies. Trust me, once you make them, they’ll become a treasured recipe you’ll come back to year after year.