Gingerbread Men Recipe (Molasses Spiced Cookies)
Gingerbread men recipe: a molasses-and-spice cookie dough is mixed, rolled, cut with a cutter, and baked quickly. This version keeps the ingredients clear and the how to make steps simple—roll gently, and pull them once the edges look lightly set.
Ingredients
For the dough
Step-by-Step Method
Preheat and prep the tray
Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment so the cookies lift off easily.
Cream the base
Beat the shortening and sugar until smooth. Keep it simple—overmixing can warm the dough too much.
Add molasses and egg
Mix in the molasses, then add the egg and beat just until everything looks evenly combined.
Combine dry ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and all the spices so they distribute evenly.
Make the dough
Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture in a few additions. Stir until a soft, workable dough forms.
Roll and cut shapes
Divide the dough in half. Roll on a lightly floured surface to about 1/8–3/16 inch (4–5 mm). Cut with a gingerbread man cutter and place on the sheet with space between.
Bake
Bake for 10–12 minutes. Pull them when the edges look lightly set; leaving them longer can make them crisp and hard.
Cool before serving
Let cookies rest on the sheet for 2 minutes, then move to a wire rack. Serve once fully cool, or decorate if you like.