If you need an easy recipe for chewy and soft gingerbread cookies from scratch, you’ve come to the right place! Tastes just like the traditional recipe!
It wouldn’t surprise me if these gingerbread men turn into the real stars of your Christmas celebration! This recipe makes the perfect cookies every time, nicely spiced with warm ginger, cinnamon, molasses and more. So why not make this timeless classic for the holiday season?
I used to make my gingerbread the way my German grandmother taught me – labor-intense, with a difficult-to-handle dough and a high rate of failure.
But once I had kids of my own who really just want to stick some eyes on their gingerbread man and don’t care that much about long-winded heritage recipes yet, I’ve switched to this classic American recipe. And now I like it even more than my old one!
Note: I updated this recipe on 11/12/2019 to make it easier and better.
Ingredients you’ll need
Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities!
Ingredient notes
- Butter – I use real butter here, but you can choose margarine instead. Please go for stick margarine and not a spread intended for using on bread.
- Light brown sugar – my favorite sugar for gingerbread cookies. If you don’t have this, you can also use white sugar and an extra tablespoon of molasses, though the taste will not be the same.
- Molasses – I like to use dark molasses, but NOT blackstrap for these cookies. Blackstrap molasses are too bitter and better for savory cooking.
- Apple cider vinegar – this helps give the dough a better texture. It doesn’t make the dough taste of vinegar. If you’re doubtful, just leave it out. White wine vinegar is an acceptable substitute.
- Flour – I always make this recipe with all-purpose flour. I know some readers have tried it with cup-for-cup gluten free flour and have been successful, but I have never personally tried it.
- Gingerbread spice mix – either use a store-bought mix, make your own with my gingerbread spice mix recipe, or use the individual spices given in the recipe card at the bottom of this post!
How to make gingerbread cookies
You start by creaming the butter and sugar (1) together until fully combined (2) – this is a lot easier if you have very soft butter. Forgot to pull it out of the fridge? No worries, just rinse a bowl under hot water, then invert it and place it over the butter for a few minutes.
Then you add the molasses, vanilla and egg (3) and mix them in just until smooth (4). Do not mix for longer than needed to fully combine the ingredients, or your cookies may turn out tough!
Then add the dry ingredients to a separate bowl (5) and mix until well combined (6).
Add the dry ingredients to the bowl with the creamed sugar mixture (7). Stir to combine into a soft cookie dough (8) – do not overmix!
At this point, the dough will feel very soft – you’ll need to refrigerate it so you can roll it and cut out cookies later.
Once it’s ready, roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface (9) – or between two sheets of lightly floured baking parchment if your counters tend to get very messy (especially non-finished surfaces such as old wood counters or uneven stone).
Make sure you don’t roll the dough thinner than ¼ inch thickness, or your gingerbread won’t turn out as soft as it should.
Cut out cookies (10), place them spaced out on a lined cookie sheet (11).
Then, just bake the cookies one tray at a time, let them cool and go wild with the decorations 😉
Baking tips
If adding the dry ingredients is too much work for your mixer, please use a rubber spatula to fold in the flour by hand!! I’ve broken a cheaper mixer with cookie dough before.
Also, I always stir by hand a little first before switching back to the mixer once I’ve added the dry ingredients, else you’ll end up with a huge cloud of flour dust all over yourself and your kitchen.
Don’t overmix the dough: Overmixing the egg can yield dough and dry cookies, so go easy – only mix until everything is incorporated.
The same goes for the flour, too: If you mix too much, the gluten will start developing, yielding tough cookies again. Only mix until no more streaks of dry flour are visible.
Bake the same sizes of cookies together: If you make different sized cookies (for example some gingerbread men, some candy canes and some hearts) and they’re all different sizes, bake them in separate batches. Otherwise some cookies will be overbaked and tough while others will stay too soft.
Cookie yield: This recipe makes about 45-50 mid-sized cookies. It makes about 16 large gingerbread men.
The recipe can be cut in half if you only want a small batch of cookies, but please note that there’s one egg in the full recipe, so you’re going to have to use half of a beaten egg to make a half batch.
Decorating tips
I usually just use a thick powdered sugar icing on these. I combine 2 cups powdered sugar with 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice, water or half-and-half.
Then I use a squeeze bottle to decorate the cookies with the icing (I just make more if we run out; but I start with a smaller amount in case we get tired of decorating). Feel free to use your favorite royal icing instead!
My kids enjoy sticking little sprinkles and things into the cookies instead.
Make sure the cookies are completely cooled before adding any icing or decorations. Let the cookies stand uncovered at room temperature overnight to let the icing set before packing them up.
And PS: About the decorating… It’s really not one of my biggest skillsets. I majorly lack the patience for it, too. I just whip up a powdered sugar icing (or use store-bought royal icing, there I said it) and try to draw something remotely adorable on the cookies.
If you feel the same way and usually try to skip the decorating part, I BEG you to get over yourself and sit down to decorate cookies with your kids. They will love this sweet memory so much, even if your gingerbread man looks more like a gingerbread monster.
My 3 year old’s words, not mine.
How to store the gingerbread cookies
Store the cooled gingrbread cookies in an airtight container on the coutner for 1-2 weeks (they taste best within the first few days though). Decorated cookies last a little less in my experience.
Freezer instructions
To freeze the cookie dough: Wrap the finished gingerbread cookie dough tightly in plastic wrap, then label with the name and use-by date and freeze for up to 3 months.
When ready to bake, thaw the dough overnight in the fridge (I recommend placing it on a plate to catch any water drips). Then roll, cut and bake as directed in the recipe.
To freeze the baked cookies: Freeze baked cookies before decorating them! Cool the cookies completely, then stack them in freezer-friendly containers, separating each layer with a piece of wax paper. Cover tightly with the lid, then label with the name and use-by date and freeze for up to 3 months.
To defrost, take out as many cookies as you need and thaw them on a wire rack on the counter for a couple of hours.
More classic Christmas cookies
PS If you try this recipe, please leave a review in the comment section and add a star rating in the recipe card – I appreciate your feedback! Follow along on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram.
Soft Gingerbread Cookies
Recipe details
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup molasses NOT blackstrap
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar OR white wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients:
- 5 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
Gingerbread Spice Mix:
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
Make the cookie dough
- Place the sugar & butter in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until combined (you can also do this in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, just be careful so you don't overmix the dough). Add the egg, molasses, vinegar and vanilla extract and beat on medium-low speed until fully combined.
- In a separate mixing bowl, mix the dry ingredients and the gingerbread spices until well combined.
- Add the dry ingredients to the molasses mix. Mix on low speed just until combined into a soft cookie dough.
Chill the dough
- Cover the bowl and chill the cookie dough for at least 3 hours and up to overnight. If you chill it overnight, you may need to let it stand at room temperature for 15 minutes so it's easier to roll.
Cut out cookies
- Once ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Divide the dough in 2 and roll each half to ¼ of an inch thickness on a lightly floured surface.
- Cut out cookies and place them on lined baking sheets about 1 inch apart. Place similarly sized cookies on the same baking sheet!
Bake the cookies
- Once you have filled a baking sheet, place it in the oven to bake. Medium-sized cookies take 8-10 minutes to bake. Large gingerbread men take 12-14 minutes to bake. Smaller cookies take 6-8 minutes to bake. They should spring back when you slightly touch their surface, but make sure to not overbake them or they'll turn out tough.
- Cool the baked cookies on a baking sheet for a couple of minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely before decorating.
Notes
Baking tips
- Don’t overmix the dough – overmixing the egg can yield dough and dry cookies.
- Bake the same sizes of cookies together! If you make different sized cookies (for example some gingerbread men, some candy canes and some hearts) and they’re all different sizes, bake them in separate batches.
- Cookie yield: This recipe makes about 45-50 mid-sized cookies. It makes about 16 large gingerbread men.
- The recipe can be cut in half if you only want a small batch of cookies, but please note that there’s one egg in the full recipe, so you’re going to have to use half of a beaten egg to make a half batch.
Jess says
What size is mid size. I need to Make 200 for a kids event to decorate
Nora says
Oh goodness, Jess! That’s a lot of gingerbread cookies. Mid-size is about 1/3 the size of a regular gingerbread man. I just went and measured the star cutter I used for the cookies in the photos, and it’s about 2.5 inches in diameter. Hope this helps!
Brenda Joyce Burleson Barnhart says
I made this recipe last year for the first time. My husband raved about them for a year. All he wanted for Christmas is a gingerbread man cookie lol. You cannot find them anywhere.
We were out shopping at the mall, we stopped at a cookie store and he said LOOK they have gingerbread man cookies. Well disappointed as ever he didn’t even eat the entire cookie. Christmas came and went so fast, I ran out of time and did not make the cookies. My daughter with a two year old was going too, but time flies when you are having fun.
Well today is Jan 22, and guess what …. I woke up early and made the cookies. They are refrigerated at this time waiting to get cut out and popped in the oven. Wish me Luck❤️
I sure hope they turn out like last year.
I’ll post pic’s when they are ready.
Happy Saturday Everyone ❤️
Nora says
Awwwww hope they turned out great, Brenda!
Bev Buckstead says
Can these just be made as regular cookies? Not rolled out and cut out. I would like to make them and just flatten them on my sheet pan.
Nora says
Do you mean you want individual cookies but just circles? In this case, I would recommend chilling the dough in a log shape and then slice it into 1/4 inch thick rounds to bake. If you want to bake the dough as one large rectangle (eg to make a gingerbread house), I honestly don’t know how it would hold up because the cookies are meant to be soft, not overly sturdy. You could always try, but I cannot guarantee good results.
Kim C says
These are the best gingerbread cookies I’ve ever made. Soft and great tasting. I received many compliments! This is my new favorite Christmas cookie!! Thank you!!!!
Nora says
I’m so glad, Kim!
Joy says
This is THE BEST gingerbread cookie recipe. It’s become on of my all time favorite to make and eat!! Thank you!
Nora says
I’m so, so glad, Joy!
Denyse says
I was wondering how long the dough will be ok in the fridge if you can’t make right away?
Nora says
Denyse, the dough keeps for 1-2 days in the fridge.
Sharon McKillop says
I have searched for a very long time for the perfect gingerbread recipe and I have finally found it! Thank you so much for finding ending my search. I just made these wonderful cookies and they are exactly as advertised: the best soft gingerbread cookies. The combination of spices is outstanding. I love having the entire house smell of gingerbread
Nora says
I’m so, so glad to hear this, Sharon!
Myra Weisman says
Reminds me of the childhood gingerbread people from a now close bakery . Perfect taste and texture . I did find the dough difficult to work with . Maybe a 3 hour chill is too much ? That’s why not 5 star
Nora says
Myra, the dough is indeed a little difficult to work with, but it does need the chilling. I do think I put a note to let it sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before rolling if it’s too hard to roll out. Hope this helps, glad the taste was great 🙂
Lois says
The recipe gets better a couple days post making!
Nora says
I agree! The spices get a chance to mingle and really come through better and better.
Rosa says
Finally I found the best gingerbread cookie recipe, followed the exact ingredients and the baking tips they came out perfect no spread
Thank you
Merry Christmas
Nora says
I’m so happy to hear this, Rosa! Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Rosa says
Hi
Why 1/2 tsp all spices if it’s already all the ingredients added separately?
I’m a bit confused
Nora says
Rosa, do you mean the 1/2 teaspoon allspice in the ingredient list? This is a very common confusion, allspice is actually an individual spice and not a mix of spices. It’s made from the berry of a plant called Pimenta dioica. If you don’t have it on hand, just add a little more cinnamon and nutmeg. Hope this helps!
Carrie says
Made these last year and about to start a new batch! Delicious! All of the tips really helped!
Nora says
I’m so glad, Carrie!
Karen says
I saw you told another commenter that had no cider vinegar or white wine vinegar that she could make these with no vinegar.but that the texture would be changed. Would plain white vinegar work, or would that affect the taste?
Nora says
Karen, plain white vinegar would work!
Myra says
I have been looking years for a recipe similar to a childhood bakery that no longer in business. Have never been able to get the correct texture until now. Loved the tips .
Nora says
I’m so glad, Myra!
Chris T says
These are delicious! Made them and they were a big hit!
Linda says
I made these about a week before Xmas, they were gone in 2 days. They are so good, they reminded me of the molasses cookies my dad use to get from a bakery in Maine.
Again, they are so good! Recipe is in my favorites box.
Jeanne Ardner says
Delicious!!! Easy to follow instructions. They stayed soft and baked beautifully.
Angela says
Made these for christmas and they turned out great! followed the recipe exactly, except for doing 1/2 crisco 1/2 butter and was the first time my cookies have held their shape and didn’t spread while baking. Decorated the cookies with white chocolate. thank you for sharing the recipe-this is a keeper!
Kathy Kerley says
Delicious and easy ! First time I‘ve tried to make gingerbread and they came out very nice. Thank you!❤️
Melissa says
I loved how soft these cookies were!
Lauren says
Great tips, I’ve used this recipe two years in a row and they are perfect! I may dip mine in melted chocolate to add another level of decadence:)
Nora says
I’m so glad, Lauren. The melted chocolate dip sounds so good 🙂
Amber Saya says
Great recipe! I followed it exactly. They came out perfect. Soft but held their shape. Delicious, and looked perfect. Highly recommend. I’ve never liked gingerbread before this recipe.
Nora says
I’m so glad, Amber!
Alyssa says
I don’t have either type of vinegar. Is that going to be a problem? Can I sub anything for it?
Nora says
Alyssa, you can just leave it out if you don’t have it on hand. It’s not a deal breaker, just helps the dough texture a little bit.