Dessert

Chewy Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe

ByRita Bennet November 17, 2025November 17, 2025

Introduction

Chewy Gingerbread Man Cookies bring the warmth of the holiday season to your kitchen with their spicy flavor and soft texture. Dipped in a sweet glaze, these charming treats are perfect for sharing or decorating.

A pile of shiny glazed gingerbread cookies shaped like little people sits on a white plate with ridged edges, stacked about two layers high showing smooth light brown icing that gives a soft shine. The cookies have a smooth texture with slight gloss and are placed casually on a white marbled surface with scattered small white and silver balls. A folded red and green plaid cloth lies under the plate, adding a warm color contrast, with cinnamon sticks placed nearby. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 cup molasses (Grandma’s brand)
1 cup butter flavored shortening

1 cup sugar
1 large egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 cup hot water
3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
3 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
6 cups flour

6 cups powdered sugar
2/3 cup milk
4 teaspoons vanilla

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare your workspace. Set out multiple cookie sheets lined with parchment paper or a silpat and arrange cooling racks over paper to catch icing drips. Have a glass bowl ready for reheating dough.
Step 2: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 3: Make the glaze by mixing powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla in a glass bowl until smooth. Set aside.

Step 4: On medium heat, combine molasses and shortening in a pot. Simmer for 2-5 minutes, whisking vigorously at first. The mixture should become a cohesive, sticky sauce that coats a spoon.
Step 5: In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream sugar, egg, and vanilla until smooth.
Step 6: Dissolve baking soda in hot water and add to the creamed mixture. Stir on low speed to combine.

Step 7: Add ground cloves, cinnamon, salt, and ginger to the mixture and blend well.
Step 8: Pour in the hot molasses mixture and beat until fully incorporated.
Step 9: Gradually beat in the flour. The dough will become very sticky and full.

Step 10: Spray your counter with nonstick spray. Remove one-third of the dough and roll it out about 1/2 inch thick. Use small gingerbread man cookie cutters to cut shapes while the dough is still warm.
Step 11: Bake cookies at 375 degrees for 5–10 minutes depending on size: 5 minutes for very small, 7-8 minutes for 3-4 inch, or 10 minutes for regular sized cookies.
Step 12: Immediately after baking, dunk each hot cookie completely in the glaze to coat all sides.

Step 13: Drain glazed cookies on cooling racks until the glaze is dry.

Tips & Variations

For easier dough handling, divide and refrigerate unused sections, reheating briefly in the microwave before rolling out.
Use various sized cookie cutters for fun, bite-sized or large gingerbread men.

Add a pinch of nutmeg or allspice for a more complex spice flavor.

Storage

Store cooled cookies in an airtight container or freezer bag. Press out air before sealing to keep them fresh. They keep well in the freezer for up to two months. Reheat briefly or let thaw at room temperature before serving.

How to Serve

The image shows two plates full of gingerbread cookies shaped like people. The first plate, white and round, sits on the upper left side and holds about seven shiny, light brown gingerbread cookies with a smooth glaze. The second plate, black and round with ridged edges, is placed near the center on a red and black plaid cloth; it holds about nine gingerbread cookies stacked on each other, all shiny and smooth, with one cookie lying on the cloth nearby. Small silver round sprinkles are scattered around the plates along with some cinnamon sticks nearby on the white marbled surface. Three shiny silver Christmas ornaments sit on the plaid cloth near the black plate. The whole scene has a warm, festive look. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use regular butter instead of shortening?

Yes, but shortening helps keep these cookies soft and chewy. Using butter may result in a slightly firmer texture.

Why do I need to dip cookies in glaze while hot?

The warm cookies absorb the glaze better, which gives a shiny, sweet coating and enhances flavor. If cookies cool first, the glaze may not stick as well.