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Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Men Cookies

These soft and chewy gingerbread men cookies, with their delightful blend of spices, are perfect for holiday celebrations and fun decorating.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American, Holiday
Calories: 150
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Cookies
  • 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (plus more for rolling out the dough)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons ground ginger
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened (1 1/2 sticks)
  • 3/4 cup light brown sugar (packed)
  • 1/2 cup molasses
  • 1 large egg (room temperature)
For the Royal Icing
  • 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 4 tablespoons warm water
  • 2 tablespoons meringue powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • Sprinkles of your choice For decorating

Method
 

For the Cookies
  1. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, ground cloves, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  2. In another bowl, beat the softened butter and brown sugar together until creamy.
  3. Pour in the molasses and add the egg. Mix until well combined.
  4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Stir until a dough starts to form.
  5. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. This helps the dough firm up for rolling.
  6. Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  7. Dust your surface with flour and roll out the chilled dough to about 1/4 inch thick.
  8. Use the cookie cutters to cut out gingerbread men. Place them on the prepared baking sheets.
  9. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the edges are firm. The centers may seem soft but they will firm up as they cool.
  10. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack.
For the Royal Icing
  1. In a bowl, combine the powdered sugar, meringue powder, warm water, and cream of tartar. Mix until smooth and stiff peaks form.
  2. Use a piping bag or a ziplock bag with the corner snipped off to decorate your cookies as you desire. Add sprinkles for extra fun.

Notes

Store cookies in an airtight container. They last about a week at room temperature. For freezing, freeze baked and cooled cookies in a single layer for up to three months.