Name: Easy 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 nothing like the smell of warm spices in the kitchen to bring festive joy, and this Easy Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe does exactly that. Soft, chewy, and packed with holiday flavor, these cookies are not just delicious—they’re a total crowd-pleaser that’s fun to make and decorate with your favorite frosting and candies.

A gingerbread cookie shaped like a person is held by two small hands, with a golden-brown textured surface. The cookie has white icing eyes, mouth, and wavy lines on the arms and legs. There are three round candy buttons in blue, red, and yellow down the center of the cookie. In the background, more similarly decorated gingerbread cookies are scattered on a white marbled surface, slightly out of focus. 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 Easy Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Easy Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Easy Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’ve tried quite a few gingerbread cookie recipes over the years, and this one stands out because it strikes the perfect balance between ease and flavor. You don’t need to fuss over complicated steps, but the end result tastes like you spent hours on it—and the soft, chewy texture is irresistible.

User-Friendly: The dough comes together quickly and is simple to handle, even if you’re baking with kids or short on time.
Perfect Texture: These cookies stay soft and chewy—not rock hard—making every bite delightful and easy to enjoy.
Classic Flavor: The warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, and cloves really shine without overpowering your palate.
Decorating Fun: They hold their shape beautifully, so you can get creative with icing, sprinkles, or whatever garnishes you like best.

Nine gingerbread man cookies are laid out in three rows on a white marbled surface. Each cookie is brown and decorated with white icing outlining the arms, feet, eyes, and smiling mouths. On the front of each gingerbread man, there are three bright candy buttons in different colors like red, blue, yellow, green, orange, and purple, placed down the center from the neck to the waist, with the colors varying between cookies. The lighting highlights the warm, textured surface of the cookies and the smooth, shiny look of the candy buttons. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this recipe plays a special role in creating that classic gingerbread magic. A few tips on picking them out will keep your cookies tasting top-notch and your baking smooth.

Flat lay of a small white ceramic bowl of all-purpose flour, a small white ceramic bowl filled with dark brown sugar, a small white ceramic bowl containing reddish-brown ground cinnamon, a small white ceramic bowl with warm brown ground ginger, a small white ceramic bowl holding dark brown ground cloves, a small white ceramic bowl of fine salt, twelve small pieces of pale yellow butter arranged neatly, a small white ceramic bowl of dark amber molasses, a small white ceramic bowl of fresh milk, two whole clean brown eggs with uncracked shells placed side by side, a small white ceramic bowl filled with bright white powdered sugar, 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 structure; make sure to measure it properly by spooning into your cup to avoid a dense dough.
Dark brown sugar: Adds moisture and a hint of molasses flavor for depth and chewiness.
Baking soda: Helps your cookies rise just enough to stay soft without getting cakey.
Ground cinnamon, ginger, and cloves: These spices give that unmistakable gingerbread aroma—freshly ground is best if you can.
Salt: Balances all the sweetness and intensifies the spice flavors.
Butter: Using room temperature butter cut into small pieces allows it to blend evenly and tenderize the dough perfectly.
Dark molasses: The heart of gingerbread—it’s bold and rich, so don’t substitute lightly.
Milk: Adds moisture and helps bring the dough together just right.
Powdered sugar (for frosting): Gives you that smooth, sweet finish to decorate your cookies 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 adding my own little twists to this Easy Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe depending on the occasion or who I’m baking for. Don’t be afraid to make it yours!

Variation: Sometimes I add a pinch of nutmeg or a dash of vanilla extract to the dough for an extra layer of warmth. It’s subtle but so cozy.
Dietary modifications: For a dairy-free version, swap the butter for coconut oil and the milk for almond milk. The texture is slightly different but still tasty.
Decorating: Try mixing royal icing with food coloring and using mini chocolate chips or colored sugar to dress your gingerbread men—it makes the whole process feel festive and personal.

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

Step 1: Mix the Dry Ingredients

I start by combining the flour, brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Making sure the spices are evenly mixed here ensures that every cookie has that consistent, warm flavor you want.

Step 2: Cut in the Butter

Adding the chilled butter pieces next, I grab my pastry blender to cut it into the flour mixture until it looks like fine crumbs. This part is key for tenderness—if you don’t have a pastry blender, two forks or your fingers work too, just don’t overheat the butter.

Step 3: Add Molasses and Milk

With the mixer on low speed, I gradually pour in the dark molasses and milk, mixing until just combined. It only takes about 30 seconds; overmixing can make the dough tough, so keep an eye on that.

Step 4: Chill the Dough

I divide the dough into two balls, wrap each in plastic wrap, and pop them into the fridge for at least two hours. This step is non-negotiable—chilling firms up the dough and prevents it from sticking while rolling. If I’m short on time, I freeze the dough for about 20 minutes instead.

Step 5: Roll, Cut, and Bake

Preheat your oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. On a well-floured surface, I roll out one dough ball about half an inch thick, flouring the top lightly so it doesn’t stick to the rolling pin. Next, I cut out my gingerbread men shapes and place them on the baking sheets.

I always chill the cut-out cookies for 5 minutes before baking—this helps them keep their sharp shapes in the oven. Bake for 8 to 11 minutes, depending on cookie size, until the centers are set but still slightly soft when touched.

Step 6: Cool and Decorate

Once out of the oven, I transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely before decorating. That way, the frosting stays put and your gingerbread men look as good as they taste.

Top Tip

Throughout my years baking this Easy Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe, I’ve learned a few nuggets that really make your baking experience smoother and the results better. Whether it’s managing sticky dough or achieving the perfect bake, these tips will save you time and frustration.

Chill the Dough Thoroughly: Never skip chilling—it prevents spreading and makes cutting shapes much easier.
Don’t Overbake: Pull the cookies out as soon as the centers barely spring back; they’ll firm up as they cool and stay soft.
Flour, Flour, Flour: Keep your workspace, rolling pin, and dough lightly floured at all times to avoid sticky messes.
Use Parchment Paper: It’s a game-changer for easy cleanup and prevents cookies from sticking.

How to Serve Easy Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe

gingerbread man cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love decorating with a simple royal icing made from powdered sugar and milk, tinted with food coloring. Mini chocolate chips, cinnamon candies, and even edible glitter add personality and sparkle to each cookie. The kids love getting creative with their designs!

Side Dishes

These cookies pair beautifully with a warm mug of spiced cider, hot chocolate, or a simple cup of tea. When I’m doing a holiday cookie platter, I sometimes add nuts and dried fruits on the side for variety.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday parties, I like arranging gingerbread men standing upright in cookie jars tied with ribbon or setting them nestled in festive boxes with shredded paper. It makes a beautiful gift and a sweet surprise for friends and family.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once fully cooled and decorated, I store these gingerbread men in an airtight container layered with parchment paper between them—this keeps them soft and prevents sticking. Stored this way, they stay fresh for about a week.

Freezing

If I need to make them ahead of time, I freeze the unbaked dough balls wrapped tightly in plastic wrap. When I’m ready to bake, I thaw the dough overnight in the fridge, roll, cut, and bake as usual. Baked cookies freeze well too—just layer them between parchment sheets in a sealed container.

Reheating

Leftover cookies don’t need reheating, but if you want to freshen them up, pop them in a 300°F oven for about 5 minutes. It brings that just-baked warmth back without drying them out.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use other types of molasses for this gingerbread dough?

Dark molasses works best for that deep, classic gingerbread flavor, but you can use blackstrap molasses for a more intense taste. Just know it’s a bit stronger and slightly more bitter. Light molasses isn’t recommended as it’ll change the flavor and color significantly.

How do I prevent my gingerbread cookies from spreading too much?

Chilling the dough before rolling and again after cutting the shapes is key to preventing spreading. Also, handle the dough gently and avoid overworking it, as warming the butter too much makes the cookies spread more. Baking on parchment paper helps maintain shape too.

Why are my gingerbread cookies turning out hard instead of soft?

If your cookies are hard, you’re likely overbaking them. Take them out when the centers are just set and still slightly soft to the touch. Also, make sure you’re not using too much flour when rolling out the dough, as that can dry them out.

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

You can try substituting all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend, but results may vary since gluten gives the cookies structure and chew. Adding a binder like xanthan gum if your flour doesn’t contain it can help. I recommend testing a small batch first.

Final Thoughts

This Easy Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe is close to my heart because it’s been a part of my holiday traditions for years — from rolling out dough with my kids to sharing trays of decorated cookies with neighbors. You’ll enjoy how approachable it is without sacrificing flavor or fun. Next time you want to bake something truly special, homemade, and heartwarming, give this recipe a try—you might just find a new favorite!