Classic Gingerbread Man Recipe for Beginners

Bake and decorate classic gingerbread man cookies with this beginner-friendly recipe! These festive cookies are perfect for holiday parties, cookie swaps, or as thoughtful gifts. With crisp edges, soft centers, and endless decorating options, they’re a fun and delicious way to celebrate the season with the whole family.

The holiday season is upon us, and that means it's time for Christmas cookie baking! There's no cookie more festive than gingerbread men cookies with their adorable icing faces and candy buttons. They are the cutest cookies on any cookie platter and a crowd-pleasing favorite. This gingerbread cookie recipe is perfect for a holiday party, a cookie exchanges, or even as a great gift. They're so much fun to make and decorate, and they're sure to impress when paired with a cup of hot chocolate.

Festive gingerbread cookies are easy to make and taste as wonderful as they look, filling your home with the warm smell of the holidays. Get the whole family involved to bake up a batch of these delicious gingerbread men cookies. Not only are they a yummy treat to eat, but there's endless fun when it comes to decorating them. With their crisp edges and soft centers, these cookies are a fun and festive way to celebrate this special time of year!

Jump to:

• Why You Will Love This Recipe
• Ingredients
• How to Make Gingerbread Man Cookies
• How to Decorate Gingerbread Cookies
• Storage Instructions
• FAQ's
• More Holiday Treats
• Classic Gingerbread Man Recipe for Beginners

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Perfect for Beginners: This recipe is easy to follow, making it ideal for those new to baking or anyone looking for a simple way to make classic gingerbread men.
• Fun Family Activity: Baking and decorating these cookies is a delightful way to get the whole family involved, creating lasting memories during the holiday season.
• Deliciously Spiced Flavor: With key ingredients like ground ginger and cinnamon, these cookies offer the warm, festive flavors that are synonymous with this time of year.
• Versatile Decorating Options: From intricate designs to simple icing patterns, you can personalize each cookie using royal icing, candies, and sprinkles.
• Great for Gifting: Homemade gingerbread man cookies make thoughtful gifts for friends and neighbors, adding a personal touch to your holiday greetings

Ingredients

• All-Purpose Flour: Forms the structure of the cookies.
• Baking Soda: Helps the cookies rise slightly for a softer texture.
• Salt: Enhances the flavors of the other ingredients.
• Ground Ginger: Provides the classic gingerbread spice.
• Ground Cinnamon: Adds warmth and depth to the flavor.
• Mixed Spice: A blend of spices for additional flavor complexity.
• Unsalted Butter, at room temperature: Adds richness and moisture.
• Light Brown Sugar: Sweetens the cookies and adds a hint of molasses flavor.
• Golden Syrup: Acts as a sweetener and gives the cookies their chewy texture.

See recipe card for quantities.

How to Make Gingerbread Man Cookies

 Combine the Dry Ingredients

• Sift together: In a large bowl, sift the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, and mixed spice. Set aside.

Combine the Wet Ingredients

• Cream the Butter and Sugar: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter, brown sugar, and golden syrup on medium speed until creamy and well combined. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure everything is mixed evenly. (If you don’t have a stand mixer, you can use an electric hand mixer.)

Make the Dough

• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix on low speed until a smooth dough forms.

• Divide the dough in half. Roll out each portion between two sheets of parchment paper to a thickness of 5 mm (¼ inch).
• Place the rolled-out dough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or until firm.

Preheat the Oven

• Preheat your oven to 140°C (275°F). Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Cut Out the Cookies

• Remove one sheet of chilled dough from the refrigerator. Use a gingerbread man (or woman)  cookie cutter to cut out cookies. Transfer them to the prepared baking sheet. (Leftover dough can be rolled out again.)

Chef’s Tips: Dip the cookie cutter in flour between cutting out the cookies to prevent the cutter from sticking.  If the dough softens while you work, return it to the refrigerator for a few minutes to firm up before continuing. Use an egg lifter (spatula) dipped in flour to lift cookies and place on the baking sheet to perfect cookies from breaking when lifted or sticking to the egg lifter.

Bake the Cookies

• Place the cookies in the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes, or until golden and dry to the touch.
• Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool completely on a drying rack. Repeat with the second sheet of dough.

Decorate

• Once completely cool, decorate the gingerbread men with royal icing, sprinkles, or any toppings of your choice.

Tips for Success

• Rolling the Dough: Rolling between parchment paper helps prevent sticking and ensures an even thickness.
• Storage: Store undecorated gingerbread men in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. Decorated cookies are best enjoyed within 3-5 days.
• Freezing Leftover Dough: Wrap leftover dough tightly in plastic wrap and transfer it to an airtight container or freezer bag. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before rolling out.

How to Decorate Gingerbread Cookies

• Prepare the Icing: Use our easy royal icing recipe made with egg whites and powdered sugar. (One batch of our recipe is more than enough to decorate all these gingerbread cookies)
• Set Up Your Piping Bag: Fill a piping bag fitted with a small round tip with the royal icing. A freezer bag with a small corner cut off works as a cost-effective alternative.
• Practice Makes Perfect: Before decorating the whole cookie, practice piping on a piece of parchment paper to get comfortable with the flow and consistency.
• Get Creative: Decorate your gingerbread people with smiles, eyes, bowties and buttons. Add gumdrop buttons, peppermint candy, or sprinkles for extra flair. Don't forget the carrot nose if you're making snowmen!
• Add Color: Use gel food coloring for vibrant colors without altering the icing consistency.
• Decorating Tips: Work slowly and keep steady pressure on the piping bag. Let each layer of icing set before adding the next to prevent colors from bleeding.
• Keep It Simple: If you're short on time, dust the cookies with powdered sugar for a festive touch.

Storage Instructions

• Room Temperature: Store undecorated gingerbread men in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. Decorated cookies are best enjoyed within 3-5 days.
• Refrigerator: Keep cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 12 days.
• Freezing Gingerbread Cookie Dough: Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer bag or airtight container. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before rolling out.
• Freezing Baked Cookies: Place baked (undecorated) cookies between layers of parchment paper in an airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or in the refrigerator.

FAQ's

More Holiday Treats

• Chocolate Indulgence: Try our Double Chocolate Brownie Recipe or French Chocolate Truffles.
• Cookie Recipes: Classic French Palmiers, Thumbprint Cookies with Strawberry Icing or Amaretti Cookies.
• Homemade Candy: Peanut Butter Whiskey Fudge or Homemade Pistachio Cranberry Almond Nougat

With this easy gingerbread man recipe, you can create the most festive cookies of the season. Whether you’re baking for a party, gifting, or just enjoying a fun activity with loved ones, these cookies are sure to impress. So grab your cookie cutters, icing, and candy decorations, and let the holiday baking magic begin!

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The nutrition is an estimate only. It was calculated using Nutrifox, an online nutrition calculator.