Spicy and fragrant cookies, soft inside and slightly crunchy outside. The classic gingerbread men, perfect for Christmas!
Gingerbread cookies, also known as gingerbread cookies or gingerbread men, are among the most loved Christmas treats worldwide. As tradition goes, on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the Christmas tree is prepared, all the colorful lights are turned on, and many typical recipes are started, old family cookbooks are opened, and one dives into a mountain of flour, sugars, and spices as if there was no tomorrow.
Every year, I start making the beloved Christmas Cookies, with my fantastic unbreakable Christmas shortcrust pastry. I make delicious pies, but this year, besides our typical Christmas recipes, I wanted to make the famous American gingerbread men.
These are the famous cookies, fragrant, spicy, and very scenic; their main characteristic is the taste given by ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and especially molasses, the ingredient that gives the Gingerbread their typical amber color, soft texture, and that caramelized aroma that makes them unique.
Little curiosities: In reality, Gingerbread Cookies did not originate in America, but their roots are English. It is said that Queen Elizabeth I of England had cookies shaped like little men made to resemble her courtiers.
You can make these delicious Christmas cookies using all the shapes you want, but the original is the little man shape, which is then decorated with royal icing or water glaze. If you want to try all the flavors of Christmas spices, I recommend trying these three fantastic recipes: gingerbread cake, gingerbread and chocolate cookies, or soft gingerbread cookies.
QUICK CHRISTMAS RECIPES
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Rest time: 1 Hour
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 20 Pieces
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Christmas
Ingredients
GINGERBREAD COOKIES THE ORIGINAL RECIPE OF THE GINGERBREAD MEN
- 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup brown sugar ((or muscovado if not using molasses))
- 2/3 cup butter
- 1/2 cup molasses ((or honey))
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 1/3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 ounce egg white
Tools
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE SPICED COOKIES
- 1 Parchment paper
- 1 Electric whisk
- Cookie cutters
Steps
HOW TO MAKE GINGERBREAD SPICED COOKIES
PREPARE THE SPICED SHORTCRUST PASTRY: In a large bowl, mix the sugar with all the spices and the baking soda and set aside
Now work the butter with the flour: Pour the flour with the cold butter into the mixer bowl and mix quickly until sandy, then add the spiced mix with the sugar
Now the magic!! Add the molasses and mix again, and you’ll smell a spice fragrance filling the kitchen! Once the ingredients are well mixed together, pour everything onto the work surface and form a nice dough, cover it, and let it rest in the refrigerator.
SHAPE AND BAKE THE COOKIES: Now it’s time to shape the cookies. After resting, take the dough and roll it out on the work surface and cut out the cookies using the shapes you like best, or the famous little man shape, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes, but adjust according to your oven. Once baked, let them cool. Meanwhile, prepare the icing. Beat the egg whites with the lemon juice, gradually adding the sugar; the mixture should stream and be firm. When the cookies are completely cool, start decorating them.
I used royal icing to make the eyes and buttons, which I then covered with chocolate chips, but if you want more fun little men, you can use colored chocolate confetti.
LET ME GIVE YOU SOME ADVICE…
Don’t skip the molasses; it’s what gives the cookies that unmistakable flavor, but if you really can’t find it, replace it with honey; the taste will change, but they’ll still be very good. Don’t overbake them and let them cool well before decorating. Remember, if the icing is too runny, add more powdered sugar.
Don’t skip the molasses; it’s what gives the cookies that unmistakable flavor, but if you really can’t find it, replace it with honey; the taste will change, but they’ll still be very good. Don’t overbake them and let them cool well before decorating. Remember, if the icing is too runny, add more powdered sugar.
QUESTIONS
CAN I USE DARK BROWN SUGAR?
Yes, of course, but if you’re not using molasses, I suggest using half brown sugar and half muscovado sugar.
