These soft & chewy gingerbread men cookies are pure holiday joy in every bite. Warm spices, rich molasses, and buttery dough come together to make the kind of cookie that brings back every cozy memory from your childhood. Baking a batch of soft & chewy gingerbread men cookies is like wrapping your kitchen in a warm, spicy hug. Whether you’re baking with little ones or just treating yourself, this recipe will have your kitchen smelling like pure Christmas magic.
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These Gingerbread Men Will Steal the Holiday Show
There’s something magical about cutting out gingerbread men, decorating them with icing and sprinkles, and giving each one its own little personality. They’re soft in the center, perfectly chewy around the edges, and bursting with holiday spices. If you’ve been dreaming of the perfect cookie for a cozy afternoon, this is it. Want to build the ultimate holiday cookie tray? Add in these maple cinnamon cookies for a buttery-sweet twist.
Why You’ll Love These Soft & Chewy Gingerbread Men Cookies
These soft & chewy gingerbread men cookies are made for memories soft in the center, full of ginger spice, and just begging for icing and sprinkles. If you’ve ever bitten into a dry, crunchy gingerbread cookie and felt a little heartbroken, this recipe is your redemption. The dough is sturdy enough for cutouts but tender after baking. Plus, they’re super fun to decorate think ugly sweaters, candy buttons, or frosty snowmen.
Ingredients You’ll Need (and What You Can Swap)
What makes these soft & chewy gingerbread men cookies stand out is their balance of molasses and spice. Here’s what you’ll need:
3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour (plus more for rolling)
1 ½ tablespoons ground ginger
1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
¾ cup light brown sugar
½ cup molasses
1 large egg
For decorating:
Royal icing (recipe below)
Sprinkles, candies, or edible glitter
You can use salted butter if that’s what you have on hand just reduce the added salt a touch. If you’re avoiding eggs, a tablespoon of applesauce can work in a pinch. And yes, gluten-free all-purpose flour blends will work too.
How to Make Gingerbread Men (Step-by-Step)
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, spices, baking soda, and salt
In a large bowl, beat the butter, brown sugar, and molasses until fluffy
Add the egg and beat again until smooth
Slowly mix in the dry ingredients until a dough forms
Divide the dough in half, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for 1 hour
Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment
Roll out dough to about ¼ inch thickness on a floured surface
Cut into gingerbread men using a 3 or 4-inch cutter
Transfer to baking sheets and bake for 9 to 10 minutes
Cool on the sheet for 5 minutes, then move to a wire rack to cool completely
Once baked, your soft & chewy gingerbread men cookies will be golden around the edges and ready for a flurry of icing. This is a great time to sip on something festive like this candy cane Christmas punch while the cookies cool.
Tips for Perfect Cut-Out Cookies Every Time
Chill the dough so it rolls out cleanly and doesn’t stick
Flour your surface, rolling pin, and cookie cutter
Don’t overbake the cookies should look slightly soft in the center
Let them cool fully before icing or decorating
To keep your soft & chewy gingerbread men cookies from drying out, don’t overbake and store them in an airtight container. Want more cozy spice? These spiced molasses gingerbread muffins are next-level good.
How to Decorate with Royal Icing (Without the Stress)
For the icing:
2 cups powdered sugar
1 ½ tablespoons meringue powder
2 to 3 tablespoons warm water
Beat all the ingredients on low until moistened, then on medium until glossy and thick. Spoon into a piping bag fitted with a small round tip. You can make eyes, buttons, scarves, or go full ugly sweater mode with sprinkles and candies. Let your creativity shine no perfection needed.
Make-Ahead, Storage & Freezing Tips
You can make the dough up to two days ahead and store it wrapped in the fridge
Freeze unbaked dough or fully baked cookies for up to three months
Keep decorated cookies in an airtight container at room temp for 5 to 7 days
If cookies start to dry out, place a slice of bread in the container to keep them soft
FAQ
Can I make these cookies without molasses?
Molasses gives them their chewy texture and rich flavor. If needed, try dark corn syrup or maple syrup, but know the flavor won’t be quite the same.
How do I keep gingerbread cookies soft for days?
Store them in a sealed container with a slice of bread or a wrapped damp paper towel inside to help retain moisture.
Can kids help decorate these?
Absolutely! Kids love decorating these with icing, sprinkles, and candy. Make a fun family moment out of it with music and hot cocoa on the side.
Bake, Decorate, Share!
These soft and chewy gingerbread men are the perfect holiday tradition. Make them for neighbors, school parties, cookie exchanges, or just for you and your favorite fuzzy socks. Share your cookie creations in the comments or tag us with your decorated cookie army!
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Soft & Chewy Gingerbread Men Cookies
Ingredients
- 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour plus more for rolling
- 1 ½ tablespoons ground ginger
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter softened
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup molasses
- 1 large egg
Royal Icing:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons meringue powder
- 2 to 3 tablespoons warm water
Instructions
- 1. Whisk together flour, spices, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl
- 2. Beat butter, brown sugar, and molasses until fluffy
- 3. Add egg and beat again until smooth
- 4. Slowly mix in dry ingredients until dough forms
- 5. Divide dough, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for 1 hour
- 6. Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment
- 7. Roll out dough to ¼ inch thick on floured surface
- 8. Cut into shapes with cookie cutters
- 9. Place on baking sheet and bake for 9–10 minutes
- 10. Cool on sheet 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack
- 11. Mix royal icing ingredients until thick and glossy
- 12. Pipe icing onto cooled cookies and decorate as desired