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Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Men Cookies

Soft and chewy gingerbread men cookies are rolled, cut, and baked until their edges are set while the centers stay soft. A two-hour chill helps the dough hold its shape for neat gingerbread cutouts.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chilling and cooling 2 hours 5 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 45 minutes
Servings: 24 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 160
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 0.75 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 0.75 cup dark brown sugar packed
  • 0.5 cup unsulphured molasses
  • 1 egg large
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3.25 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp ground ginger
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 0.5 tsp ground cloves
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 0.5 tsp fine salt

Equipment

  • 2 baking sheets
  • 1 electric mixer

Method
 

  1. Whisk the flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl.
  2. Beat the butter and brown sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
  3. Beat in the molasses, egg, and vanilla until smooth, scraping down the bowl as needed.
  4. Add the flour mixture in two additions, mixing on low just until no dry streaks remain.
  5. Divide the dough in half and shape each half into a disk.
  6. Wrap the disks tightly and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
  7. Heat the oven to 350°F.
  8. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  9. Roll one disk between sheets of parchment to 1/4-inch thickness.
  10. Cut out 3- to 4-inch gingerbread men.
  11. Arrange the cutouts about 1 inch apart on the prepared sheets.
  12. Reroll the scraps and repeat with the second disk.
  13. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, rotating the sheets from top to bottom and front to back halfway through, until the edges are set but the centers still look soft.
  14. Cool the cookies on the baking sheets for 5 minutes.
  15. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes

For soft centers, take the cookies out when the edges are set but the centers still look soft. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days; freeze for up to 3 months. For a dairy-free variation, use plant-based butter.