Gingerbread Man Cookies are spiced cookies that is usually made during Christmas time. This recipe can be made by rolling a simple dough, cutting into cute shapes and baking it until light golden. It has a warm flavour from spices and a mild sweetness which makes it very comforting to eat.
These cookies has slightly crisp edges and soft inside which makes it very enjoyable. Homemade gingerbread cookies are better than store bought ones as you know what all goes in it. This recipe you can try at home with kids and the decorating part also make it more fun.
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About Gingerbread Man Cookies
Gingerbread cookies are traditional holiday cookies and have been made for many years in different parts of the world. It is usually flavoured with ginger and cinnamon and other warm spices which gives it that classic taste. The dough is rolled and cut into shapes and most commonly the gingerbread man shape is used.
The texture of these cookies can be soft or slightly crisp depending on how you bake it. It has a deep flavor from brown sugar and honey and the spices give a rich and slightly earthy taste and the aroma while baking it just fills the whole kitchen and it tastes delicious.
There are many variations you can try in this recipe and change based on your taste. Some people use molasses instead of honey and some make it crisper while others like soft cookies. You can decorate it with icing or sprinkles or just keep it plain and still it taste good.
I usually make this recipe during December, I like to decorate it in simple way and store in jars. It feels nice to have homemade cookies ready and it stays good for few days.
Gingerbread Man Cookies Ingredients
- Flour - I used wheat flour to make this, you can also use maida or combine both and use.
- Butter - Butter at room temperature is used and it helps to make the dough smooth. It has richness and give soft texture to the cookies.
- Honey - Honey is added for mild sweetness and it also gives slight sticky texture to the dough. You can use molasses if you want deeper taste.
- Brown sugar - It gives color and slight caramel flavor and it also help to keep the cookies soft.
- Egg - Egg is used to bind the dough and it give structure. If needed you can replace it with milk for eggless version.
- Cinnamon powder - It is added for warm flavour and it gives that classic gingerbread taste.
- Ginger powder - Ginger powder is the main flavor in this recipe and it give slight spicy taste. You can adjust based on your taste.
- Clove powder - I have added clove powder and it has strong flavor. Add very little as it can become too strong.
- Pepper powder - It adds mild heat and it balance the sweetness.
- Nutmeg powder - Nutmeg gives aroma and it enhance the spice flavor.
- Icing sugar - Icing sugar is used for decoration and it give smooth finish.
- Milk - Milk is added little by little and it help to make icing in right consistency.
- Food colour - I have used little food colour for decorating and you can use any colour or skip it.
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Expert Tips
- Chilling the dough - I usually keep the dough in fridge for at least one hour and it helps to make it firm. It makes rolling easy and dough will not stick much.
- Rolling evenly - Try to roll the dough evenly and it help all cookies to bake same time. If it is uneven some cookies may bake faster.
- Do not over bake - Keep checking when edges start to brown and remove it. It may look soft but it will become firm after cooling.
- Icing consistency - Add milk little by little and mix and it should be thick and flowing. It helps to decorate easily.
- Spice adjustment - You can change spice quantity and adjust based on your taste. I usually reduce clove if I want mild flavor.
Serving and Storage
Serve these cookies with milk or warm tea and it taste very good. It is good for evening snack and also for festive time serving. Store in airtight container and it stay good at room temperature for few days.
FAQS
1.Can I skip egg?
Yes you can replace egg with milk or curd and it still works. The texture may change little but it is fine.
2.Can I make the dough in advance?
Yes you can make the dough before and keep in fridge for one day. It makes it easy to roll later.
3.Why are my cookies hard?
It may be over baked or rolled very thin. Next time bake less time and keep little thick.
4.Can I use only wheat flour?
Yes you can use wheat flour and it will be little dense. But still it taste good.
5.Can I decorate without icing?
Yes you can skip icing and still it taste good. The spice flavor itself is nice and enough.
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📖 Recipe Card
Gingerbread Man Cookies | Christmas Gingerbread Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour*
- ¼ cup butter
- ⅛ cup honey
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 no egg
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 1 teaspoon ginger powder
- ⅛ teaspoon clove powder
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper powder
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg powder
*I used wheat flour, you can use maida too.
For the icing:
- ⅓ cup icing sugar
- a drop food color
- 1 tablespoon milk (it may take less only)
Instructions
- To a mixing bowl - add butter, honey and brown sugar.
- Cream it well using a whisk or hand mixer. In a separate bowl add an egg.
- Whisk it well and add it. Mix it.
- To a siever add flour and spice powders, sieve it directly to the butter sugar egg mixture.
- Whisk to bring together, do no knead. I switched to spatula here to bring it together to a dough.
- Cling wrap it and refrigerate for at least an hour. Then roll the cookie dough between 2 parchment or butter papers.
- Using the gingerbread cookie cutter, cut out cookies.
- Carefully take the gingerbread cookies and place it on the baking tray lined with butter paper.
- Now scrap the extras and repeat the process.
- Preheat oven at 180 deg C for 10mins.
- Bake in preheated oven for 12-15mins or until the edges start to brown. Cool down the cookies.
- Meanwhile we can prepare the icing. In a mixing bowl add icing sugar, food color and milk. While adding milk, add little by little. Mix well to form a smooth thickish flowing icing.
- Prepare a cone, fill it up with icing and decorate the Gingerbread cookies. I used few color sprinklers too.
Notes
- Chilling the dough - I usually keep the dough in fridge for at least one hour and it helps to make it firm. It makes rolling easy and dough will not stick much.
- Rolling evenly - Try to roll the dough evenly and it help all cookies to bake same time. If it is uneven some cookies may bake faster.
- Do not over bake - Keep checking when edges start to brown and remove it. It may look soft but it will become firm after cooling.
- Icing consistency - Add milk little by little and mix and it should be thick and flowing. It helps to decorate easily.
- Spice adjustment - You can change spice quantity and adjust based on your taste. I usually reduce clove if I want mild flavor.
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