Best Gingerbread Men Cookies

No holiday celebration is complete without adorably decorated gingerbread men cookies. These gingerbread cookies scream "Christmastime," from their spiced flavor down to their festive shape. So grab the kids, get the cookie cutters ready, and be prepared to enjoy the best gingerbread men cookies of your life.

Who Invented Gingerbread Men?

Gingerbread men cookies come to us from across the pond where Queen Elizabeth I was the first person to serve them. She presented visiting dignitaries with gingerbread cookies decorated to look just like them.

How to Make Gingerbread Men Cookies

Making gingerbread men from scratch may seem intimidating, but it's actually quite easy. You'll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here's what you can expect from when making these cookies:

Make the Dough

Combine the flour, baking soda, salt, and spices together in a bowl. Set aside. Cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add molasses, eggs, and vanilla and beat until well combined. Gradually add the flour mixture until well combined.

Cut Out the Cookies

For best results, refrigerate the dough for at least four hours (or overnight is better). This will prevent the dough from sticking to the surface when cutting out the cookies.

Roll out the chilled dough on a floured surface. Cut into gingerbread men shapes (or whatever cookie cutter shape you're using).

Bake

Bake the gingerbread men cookies until the edges set and the cookies begin to brown. Allow to cool completely and decorate the cookies as desired.

Learn more: Quick Tips to Make the Best Gingerbread Cookies

How to Decorate Gingerbread Men Cookies

Let your imagination run wild when decorating these gingerbread men cookies. You can use a simple sugar cookie icing or royal icing to add gingerbread men features. Then top them with candies, nuts, sprinkles or anything else you like to give these cookies some character.

How to Store Gingerbread Men Cookies

Store gingerbread men cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days.

How to Freeze Gingerbread Men Cookies

Unbaked gingerbread cookie dough will freeze well for up to three months. Wrap the dough ball in a layer of storage wrap then a layer of aluminum foil. When you're ready to bake, allow the dough to thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then cut and bake as directed.

Baked gingerbread men cookies can be frozen undecorated. Place the completely cooled cookies in a zip-top freezer bag and freeze for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge overnight then decorate as desired.

Cookdap Community Tips and Praise

“These are outstanding. My family does not normally like gingerbread men as much as other flavors, but these got raves. Dough was very easy to work with. Will use again for Valentine’s Day instead of the traditional sugar cookie. These are much better,” says Caroline O.

“Loved this recipe as is! Flavorful, soft cookies that were perfect for decorating during the holidays. My kids and I both enjoyed making these cookies…and eating them,” raves Noel.

“Perfect taste and texture. I love gingerbread cookies, but they are usually too crisp. This recipe yields cookies that are structured and hold their shape (they do not spread), but are soft when you bite into them. I am a terrible baker and this recipe was easy to follow and the dough was relatively easy to roll out,” according to cgtt7.