The BEST Christmas Cookie – Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Man Cookies
This soft and chewy gingerbread man cookie recipe brings the cozy warmth of Christmas spices together with a rich molasses base for irresistibly tender cookies perfect for holiday celebrations.
Equipment
- 1 Mixing bowl for creaming sugar and eggs
- 1 Rolling pin for rolling out dough
- 1 Gingerbread cookie cutter small size preferred
Ingredients
Main ingredients
- 1 cup Molasses Grandma's brand
- 1 cup Butter Flavored Shortening
- 1 cup Sugar
- 1 Large Egg
- 0.5 teaspoon Vanilla
- 2 teaspoons Baking Soda
- 0.5 cup Hot Water
- 0.75 teaspoon Ground Cloves
- 3 teaspoons Cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1.5 teaspoons Ground Ginger
- 6 cups Flour
- 6 cups Powdered Sugar
- 0.66 cup Milk
- 4 teaspoons Vanilla for glaze
Instructions
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a pot over medium heat, simmer molasses and shortening 2–5 minutes until cohesive.
- In mixer, cream sugar, egg, and vanilla until smooth.
- Dissolve baking soda in hot water. Add to creamed mixture and combine.
- Add ground cloves, cinnamon, salt and ginger. Mix well.
- Add hot molasses mixture; beat until incorporated.
- Add flour slowly until dough becomes sticky and smooth.
- Spray counter with nonstick spray. Roll dough ½” thick. Cut into gingerbread men shapes while warm.
- Bake for 5–10 minutes depending on cookie size. Remove pan and quickly glaze cookies while warm.
- Mix powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla to create glaze.
- Dunk cookies in glaze and place on rack to cool and dry.
- Store in airtight container or freeze up to 2 months.
Notes
Keep the dough warm at all times and don’t add extra flour. Use nonstick spray to help with rolling and handling. Dunk hot cookies in glaze immediately after baking for the best texture.