Eileen's Spicy Gingerbread Men Recipe

Enjoy the holiday season with these delightful and spicy gingerbread men. Made with a blend of warm spices, molasses, and ginger, these cookies are full of flavor and perfect for decorating. Get into the festive spirit and make these gingerbread men from scratch. They make a great treat for kids and adults alike. Follow this easy recipe to create a batch of delicious and aromatic gingerbread cookies.

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup water
• Royal icing and food coloring for decoration

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add the molasses, egg, vanilla extract, and water to the butter mixture, and mix until well combined.
4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing well after each addition.
5. Divide the dough into two equal portions, flatten into discs, and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
6. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
7. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each portion of dough to about 1/4-inch thickness.
8. Using gingerbread men-shaped cookie cutters, cut out the dough and place the cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
9. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
10. Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack before decorating with royal icing.
11. To decorate, prepare the royal icing according to package instructions, and divide it into different bowls. Add food coloring to each bowl to create desired colors.
12. Using a piping bag or a small ziplock bag with the corner snipped off, pipe the icing onto the cookies to create designs and add details.
13. Let the icing dry completely before storing the gingerbread men in an airtight container.

Interesting Facts