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Soft & Chewy Gingerbread Men Cookies Recipe

Soft & Chewy Gingerbread Men Cookies Recipe
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★★★★★

4.8 from 10 reviews

These Soft & Chewy Gingerbread Men Cookies are a delightful holiday treat featuring a perfect balance of warm spices and molasses. With a tender, chewy texture and decorated with festive royal icing and sprinkles, they are perfect for baking with family and sharing joy during the holiday season.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Cookies

  • 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (plus more for rolling out the dough)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons ground ginger
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened (1 1/2 sticks)
  • 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1/2 cup molasses
  • 1 large egg, room temperature

For the Royal Icing

  • 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 4 tablespoons warm water
  • 2 tablespoons meringue powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • Sprinkles of your choice

Instructions

  1. Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, ground cloves, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt until everything is well combined. Set this mixture aside.
  2. Make Cookie Dough: In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the softened unsalted butter, light brown sugar, and molasses together until the mixture is fluffy and smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the egg and beat until combined. Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture with the mixer on low speed, mixing just until the dough comes together. Avoid overmixing to keep the cookies tender.
  3. Chill Dough: Divide the dough into two equal parts, wrap each in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator until firm, about 1 hour or overnight if preparing ahead of time.
  4. Preheat Oven and Roll Dough: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove one dough portion from the fridge and let it rest for about 10 minutes. On a lightly floured surface (using about 1/4 cup flour per dough disc), roll the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. If the dough feels too soft, add a little flour as you roll. Use a 4-inch gingerbread man cookie cutter to cut out shapes.
  5. Arrange and Bake: Transfer the cut cookies onto parchment-lined baking sheets, preferably half sheet pans with raised edges. Re-roll the scraps and cut out more cookies as needed. Bake the cookies for 9 to 10 minutes until edges are set but cookies remain soft in the center.
  6. Cool Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat baking with remaining dough.
  7. Prepare Royal Icing: In a mixing bowl, combine the powdered sugar, warm water, meringue powder, and cream of tartar. Beat on low speed until ingredients are moistened, then increase to medium speed and beat for 1 to 3 minutes until the mixture is slightly thickened and glossy. Keep the icing covered until ready to use.
  8. Decorate Cookies: Once the cookies are fully cooled, decorate them with the prepared royal icing and sprinkles as desired to create festive designs.

Notes

  • If the dough is too sticky when rolling, dust with a little more flour to prevent sticking, but avoid adding too much to keep cookies tender.
  • Chilling the dough overnight enhances the flavors and makes it easier to handle.
  • Use room temperature egg for better mixing and texture.
  • Allow cookies to cool completely before decorating to prevent icing from melting.
  • Store decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
  • Meringue powder ensures a stable royal icing, but you can substitute with egg whites if preferred, though food safety should be considered.
  • Use parchment paper for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking during baking.

Nutrition

Keywords: gingerbread men, gingerbread cookies, holiday cookies, Christmas cookies, chewy gingerbread, soft cookies, royal icing, festive treats

Find it online: https://foodbylina.com/soft-and-chewy-gingerbread-men-cookies-recipe-2/