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Gingerbread Men Cookies

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Gingerbread Men Cookies
  • Prep 1 hr 30 min
  • Total 2 hr 40 min
  • Servings 120
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It’s not the holidays until the warming aromas of cinnamon, cloves and ginger are wafting through your kitchen—and if you agree, we think you’ve stumbled upon the perfect gingerbread men recipe! These crispy gingerbread cutout cookies are iconic in looks and taste, and they provide a blank canvas ready for all sorts of festive artwork. Since decorating gingerbread men is the best part, you might want to round up some little bakers to get in on the Christmas magic. Pipe on cute-as-a-button faces or use candies to dress up your Gingerbread Men Cookies. However you choose to gussy them up, the simple act of decorating is sure to spread some holiday cheer!
By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Updated Nov 12, 2021

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 3 tablespoons molasses
  • 2 tablespoons water or milk
  • 1 egg
  • 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • Currants or assorted candies, if desired
  • Colored sugar or additional sugar, if desired

Steps

  • 1
    In large bowl, beat granulated sugar, butter and molasses with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon, until well mixed. Beat in water and egg until blended. Stir in flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, salt, cardamom and cloves. Cover and refrigerate about 1 hour or until firm.
  • 2
    Heat oven to 350°F. Roll 1/3 of dough at a time on floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness. (Keep remaining dough refrigerated until ready to roll.) Cut with floured 2 1/2-inch gingerbread boy or girl cookie cutters. On ungreased cookie sheets, place cutouts 1 inch apart. Decorate with currants or candies. Sprinkle with colored sugar.
  • 3
    Bake 6 to 7 minutes or until set. Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack; cool.

Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens

  • tip 1
    Place the tiny candies or sprinkles onto the unbaked cookies with clean tweezers.
  • tip 2
    Store your gingerbread men in a covered container.
  • tip 3
    We bet you’re wondering if you actually need to chill the dough for an hour in the fridge, and the answer is…yes! Chilling your dough before rolling it out will make rolling and cutting much easier and less messy—which is particularly important if you have little hands helping.
  • tip 4
    Try decorating a Christmas gingerbread man with a piping bag, or sprinkle on red and green sugar for a festive look. Tiny candies work well for eyes or as buttons.
  • tip 5
    Gingerbread freezes well. If you’re anticipating a hectic holiday season, bake a batch now, wrap them up and store in your freezer for up to two months.

Nutrition

40 Calories, 1 1/2g Total Fat, 0g Protein, 6g Total Carbohydrate, 3g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Cookie
Calories
40
Calories from Fat
15
Total Fat
1 1/2g
2%
Saturated Fat
1g
5%
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol
5mg
2%
Sodium
45mg
2%
Potassium
15mg
0%
Total Carbohydrate
6g
2%
Dietary Fiber
0g
0%
Sugars
3g
Protein
0g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
0%
0%
Vitamin C
0%
0%
Calcium
0%
0%
Iron
0%
0%
Exchanges:
0 Starch; 0 Fruit; 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 1/2 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
1/2
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
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