Soft & Chewy Gingerbread Men Cookies with Homemade Royal Icing
Soft, chewy gingerbread men cookies packed with warm spices and decorated with easy royal icing. Perfect for holiday baking and gifting.
Ingredients
For the Gingerbread Cookies
- 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour (plus extra for rolling)
- 1 ½ tbsp ground ginger
- 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup packed light brown sugar
- ½ cup molasses
- 1 large egg, room temperature
For the Royal Icing
- 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 4 tbsp warm water
- 2 tbsp meringue powder
- tsp cream of tartar
Decorations
- Holiday sprinkles of your choice
Instructions
1. Prepare the Dough
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, spices, baking soda, and salt.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter, brown sugar, and molasses until creamy and fluffy (about 2 minutes).
- Add the egg and mix until fully incorporated.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture on low speed. Mix only until a soft dough forms.
- Divide the dough in two halves, wrap each portion in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 40 minutes or until firm.
2. Cut the Cookies
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Allow the chilled dough to rest for 10 minutes.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about ¼-inch thickness.
- Use a 3–4 inch gingerbread man cookie cutter to cut shapes.
- Transfer cookies to parchment-lined baking sheets, reshaping and rolling leftover dough as needed.
3. Bake
- Bake for 9–10 minutes, or until edges are set but still soft.
- Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then move to a wire rack to cool completely.
4. Make the Royal Icing
- Combine powdered sugar, meringue powder, cream of tartar, and warm water in a bowl.
- Beat on low to moisten, then increase to medium speed for 1–3 minutes until the icing becomes glossy.
- Keep the bowl covered until ready to decorate.
5. Decorate
- Pipe details using a small round tip.
- Add sprinkles, candy buttons, or fun holiday accents.
Notes
- Dough must stay chilled to maintain shape.
- Light molasses provides soft texture—avoid blackstrap for best flavor.
- Spices can be adjusted to personal preference.
- Use parchment paper for smooth, even baking results.