Gingerbread Men

Gingerbread Men
3.7 (22 ratings)
Gingerbread comes in all shapes, sizes, and textures, but as soon as you cut a cute, round-headed man out of gingerbread cookie dough, you've got a classic holiday treat that can be decorated however your holiday-heart desires. 
Servings
12
Ingredients
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 stick butter, softened
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup molasses
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 cup flour, plus more for dusting
  • 2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon all-spice
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions
  1. In a stand mixer, cream together the sugar and butter. Add the eggs, one at a time, until fully incporated, and then add the molasses and vanilla extract. Sift together the dry ingredients in a bowl and slowly add to the egg mixture until evenly combined and a dough forms.
  2. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour until firm. Divide the dough into halves and roll out each half at a time onto a floured work surface. Roll until the dough is ⅛-inch thick and cut out the gingerbread men. Lay them out on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Repeat steps with the dough scraps and the other half of dough.
  3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  4. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes, until the edges are browned. Decorate the cookies using icing, sprinkles, and other candies.*