How To Make The Best Gingerbread Men Cookies

When people think back to some of their best childhood memories, a lot of them always remember the delicious smell of freshly baked gingerbread man cookies coming from the kitchen. Gingerbread men cookies date back to the 15 century and have been a favorite ever since. They are usually shaped into something that is human-like, however other shapes have also become common, especially around seasonal holidays such as Halloween and Christmas.  No matter the time of year, eating these cookies are a real treat. Take a look at this classic gingerbread man cookie recipe that will definitely be loved by all.

How To Make The Best Gingerbread Men Cookies

Ingredients

3 cups of all-purpose flour
6 tablespoons of unsalted butter
¾ cup of dark brown sugar
1 large egg
½ cup of molasses
2 teaspoons of vanilla
1 teaspoon of finely grated lemon zest
1 ½ teaspoon of baking powder
¾ teaspoon of baking soda
1⁄4 teaspoon of salt
1 tablespoon of ground ginger
1 ¾ teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1⁄4 teaspoon ground cloves

Method

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves unit it’s all well blended.
2. Next, in a large bowl, beat the butter, brown sugar, and egg on a medium speed until the ingredients are well combined.
3. Then, add the molasses, vanilla, and lemon zest while you continue to mix. Make sure that everything is completely blended.
4. Following that, gradually stir in all the dry ingredients until everything is mixed well and has a smooth texture.
5. Once you see that the dough is light and soft, divide it in half and wrap each half in plastic, allowing it to stand at room temperature for approximately 2 hours. Some may even prefer up to 8 hours.
6. Next, pre-heat the oven to 375℉ (190℃). While the oven is heating up, prepare the baking sheets by lining each one with parchment paper or greasing it with butter or non-stick cooking spray. Set aside
7. If you decide to refrigerate the dough 3-4 days before actually baking it, be sure to return to room temperature before using it.
8. Take 1 portion of the dough and place it on a clean, lightly floured surface.
9. Sprinkle some flour over the dough as well the rolling pin.
10. Thoroughly roll the dough until it is about 1/4-inch (½ cm) thick. To avoid the dough from becoming sticky add a small amount of flout to the surface.
11. Now that the dough is perfect and ready, cut out the cookies with the gingerbread man shaped cutter.
12. Place them onto the lined baking sheet. They should generally be well spaced apart – approximately 1 1/2-inches apart. To avoid disappointment, do not overcrowd the tray. Instead, it’s highly recommended to do multiple batches of baking.
13. It’s also best to bake one baking tray at a time for approximately 7 -1o minutes.
14. Once the cookies are ready, remove them from the oven and allow them all to cool completely or until they are firm enough to be moved to a wire rack.
15. Only once the cookies have cooled can you go ahead and decorate them any way you or your kids like. The cookies should then be stored in an air-tight container.