There’s something magical about the smell of warm spices filling the kitchen, and nothing captures that cozy feeling quite like my Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe. These cookies are soft, chewey, with just the perfect spice mix – a true classic that’s as fun to make as it is to enjoy.

A brown gingerbread cookie shaped like a person is held by small hands with light skin. The cookie has three colorful candy buttons in blue, red, and yellow colors lined down its middle, each outlined in white icing. The gingerbread figure has white icing eyes, a smiling mouth, and zigzag icing patterns on its arms and legs. In the background, more similar gingerbread cookies are scattered on a white marbled surface, slightly blurred to keep the focus on the cookie being held. 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 Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I’ve made countless gingerbread cookie recipes, but this one has stolen my heart for good. It strikes a beautiful balance: soft enough to chew with pleasure, yet sturdy enough to decorate without crumbling. Trust me, once you roll out this dough, you'll be hooked.

Perfect Soft Texture: Unlike super crispy gingerbread, these cookies stay chewy and tender, which I find so comforting, especially with a glass of milk.
Rich Spice Blend: The combination of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves fills your kitchen with holiday cheer and gives these cookies their signature warmth.
Easy to Handle Dough: The mandatory chilling step means the dough isn’t a sticky mess, making cookie cutting a breeze and seriously upping your decorating game.
Great for Gifting: These gingerbread men hold their shape well in tins and make adorable gifts or party favors that always impress.

Nine gingerbread cookies shaped like little people are laid out on a white marbled surface. Each cookie has a warm brown color with visible texture and soft edges. All have smiling faces made of white icing with two dots for eyes and a curved line for a mouth. Their arms and legs are decorated with squiggly white icing lines near the edges. Three colorful round candies run down the center of each cookie’s body, with varying color combinations including red, blue, yellow, green, orange, and purple. The cookies are arranged in a 3 by 3 grid, spaced evenly apart. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient in this Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe has a role that adds to the overall flavor and texture. I love that it uses pantry staple spices and classic molasses for that deep, rich taste.

Flat lay of a small mound of all-purpose flour, a white ceramic bowl filled with dark brown sugar, a white ceramic bowl holding ground cinnamon, another white ceramic bowl with ground ginger, a small white bowl containing ground cloves, a pinch of salt delicately spread, a neat stack of twelve small pieces of pale yellow room-temperature butter arranged in a linear pattern, a white ceramic bowl of dark molasses, a small white bowl of milk, a small white bowl with powdered sugar, two whole uncracked brown eggs placed symmetrically, all items placed with perfect symmetry 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: The base of the dough, providing structure while still allowing softness.
Dark brown sugar: Adds moisture and a subtle caramel note that works beautifully with the spices.
Baking soda: Helps the cookies rise just enough to stay tender but not puffed up.
Ground cinnamon, ginger, and cloves: These spices create that iconic gingerbread flavor we all love – warm, slightly spicy, and aromatic.
Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances all the flavors.
Butter: Using room temperature butter cut into pieces helps achieve that soft texture when blended into the dough.
Dark molasses: The heart of gingerbread, giving the cookies their color and deep, robust flavor.
Milk: Moisturizes the dough for chewiness and helps bind everything together.
Powdered sugar (for frosting): Smooth and sweet, perfect for decorating.

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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 like to mix things up sometimes, whether it’s adjusting spices or trying different decorating styles. These gingerbread cookies are surprisingly adaptable, so feel free to get creative!

Variation: I've made these with added ground nutmeg or a pinch of cardamom for an extra layer of flavor — it’s a little twist that brings something new to the table.
Dietary modification: For a dairy-free version, try swapping the butter for coconut oil and milk for a plant-based milk. The texture shifts a bit but still delicious!
Seasonal change: Around Valentine’s Day, I cut the dough into little hearts instead of gingerbread men and decorated with pastel icing.

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

Step 1: Mix Your Dry Ingredients and Cut in the Butter

Start by combining the flour, brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt in a large bowl. Here’s a little pro tip: use a pastry blender or two knives to cut in the butter pieces until your mixture looks like fine crumbs. This ensures those lovely pockets of butter that help create a tender crumb.

Step 2: Add the Molasses and Milk

With your mixer running on low speed, slowly add the molasses followed by the milk. You'll want to mix just until everything comes together—about 30 seconds. Overmixing can make the cookies tough, so keep an eye on it.

Step 3: Chill the Dough

Divide the dough into two balls, wrap them in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. If you’re like me and short on time, you can pop the dough in the freezer for about 20 minutes. This chilling step is essential—it makes the dough firm and easier to roll out without sticking.

Step 4: Roll and Cut the Cookies

Preheat your oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Place one dough ball on a well-floured surface, lightly flour the top and your rolling pin, and roll the dough out to about half an inch thick. If it sticks, add a little extra flour, but don’t go overboard or the cookies might dry out.

Cut into cute gingerbread men shapes and transfer them to the baking sheets. I always refrigerate the cut cookies for 5 minutes before baking to help them hold their shape.

Step 5: Bake and Cool

Bake the cookies for 8 to 11 minutes, depending on size. You want the centers to be set but still soft – if you press lightly and an imprint remains, take them out right away. Overbaking will dry them out, and that’s not what we want!

Cool the cookies on a wire rack before decorating or storing.

Top Tip

After making these cookies dozens of times, I've learned a few tricks that helped me get them just right every time. These tips should save you a little stress and help you nail it on your first go!

Don’t Skip Chilling: I once tried skipping this step, and the dough was impossible to handle—it just stuck everywhere. A chilled dough is easier to roll and cuts clean edges.
Flour Lightly: Dust your work surface and rolling pin lightly, so you avoid dry cookies from too much flour.
Watch Your Bake Time: The difference between chewy and crunchy here is just a minute or two, so check early and often.
Use Parchment Paper: This keeps your cookies from sticking and makes cleanup a breeze—trust me, your baking sheets will thank you.

How to Serve Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe

gingerbread man cookies - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love decorating my gingerbread men with simple royal icing made from powdered sugar and milk. Adding little candy eyes or red-hots for buttons gives them personality. For a minimal look, a drizzle of white icing adds a festive touch without overwhelming the spice notes.

Side Dishes

These cookies pair beautifully with a warm cup of spiced tea or hot cocoa, especially on chilly days. I often serve them alongside a platter of other holiday sweets like peppermint bark or cinnamon-dusted nuts for a festive spread.

Creative Ways to Present

For a party, I like to arrange gingerbread men standing upright in a decorated cookie box or tied with a bit of twine for gifting. Around Christmas, you can use them as edible ornaments—just punch a small hole at the top before baking and thread ribbon through once cooled.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store your gingerbread man cookies in an airtight container layered with parchment paper to prevent sticking. They keep well for up to two weeks this way—although in my experience, they usually disappear sooner!

Freezing

I often freeze unbaked cookie dough wrapped tightly in plastic wrap for up to three months. When I’m ready, I thaw it overnight in the fridge and roll out the dough as usual. You can also freeze baked cookies layered in an airtight container; just thaw at room temperature before enjoying.

Reheating

If you want that fresh-baked warmth, I lightly warm the cookies in a 300°F oven for 5 minutes. This softens them just a bit without drying out the edges, making them taste straight from the oven again.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I make gingerbread men without molasses?

Molasses is key to classic gingerbread flavor and texture because it adds moisture and that rich color. If you don’t have molasses, you can substitute with dark corn syrup or a mix of honey and brown sugar, but the flavor will be a bit different.

How thick should I roll the dough?

Rolling the dough to about ½ inch thick works best—it ensures the cookies bake evenly and stay soft inside while holding their shape during baking and decorating.

Can I decorate the cookies with icing right away?

It’s important to let the cookies cool completely before decorating to prevent the icing from melting. I usually let them cool for at least 30 minutes on a wire rack.

Why does chilling the dough matter?

Chilling firms up the dough, making it easier to roll and cut without sticking or losing shape. It also helps the flavors develop better, resulting in tastier cookies.

Final Thoughts

This Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe has a special place in my heart because it always brings out smiles, whether I’m baking with family or gifting to friends. The juicy spices, tender bite, and endless decorating possibilities make it a festive kitchen staple I highly recommend you try. Grab your mixer, have fun with those cookie cutters, and enjoy the warm, spicy goodness that these cookies will fill your home with—trust me, it’s totally worth it.