Name: Chewy Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 1 h
Cuisine: American
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 water, hot; 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

Jump to Recipe· 4.5 from 21 reviews

If you’re anything like me, nothing gets you quite in the holiday spirit like baking up a batch of warm, spiced cookies. Today, I’m sharing my all-time favorite Chewy Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe — it’s indulgently soft, perfectly spiced, and dipped in a sweet vanilla glaze that takes it to the next level. Whether you’re decorating with the kids or looking to impress your cookie swap crew, these chewy gingerbread men have got you covered.

🖤

Why This Recipe Works

Perfect Chewiness: The molasses and shortening combo gives each cookie that dreamy soft chew you can’t resist.
Rich Spices: A blend of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves balances warmth and sweetness just right, creating that classic gingerbread scent.
Quick Glaze Dip: Dunking the cookies in vanilla glaze while still warm locks in moisture and adds a lovely glossy finish.
Easy Handling: Rolling the dough warm and using cooking spray instead of flour keeps things smooth and manageable, no sticky fingers here!

Chewy Gingerbread Man Cookies, gingerbread cookies recipe, holiday gingerbread cookies, soft gingerbread men, spiced gingerbread cookies - The image shows two white plates filled with gingerbread cookies shaped like little people, all covered in a smooth, shiny light brown icing. One plate is placed at the top left corner with cookies closely stacked, while the other plate, which is grey, sits in the center with cookies piled on top of each other. Two cookies lie separately on the white marbled surface, one at the bottom center and another on the middle right side. Scattered around are small white and silver round sprinkles and cinnamon sticks. A red and dark green plaid cloth is folded and placed underneath and around the grey plate, with three shiny silver Christmas baubles sitting on the cloth near the top right corner. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient here has a purpose in crafting the chewy texture and rich flavor of these gingerbread men. From the molasses that deepens taste and softness, to the baking soda that tenderizes, you’ll want to use the best quality—and yes, Grandma’s molasses really makes a difference in this classic.

Chewy Gingerbread Man Cookies, gingerbread cookies recipe, holiday gingerbread cookies, soft gingerbread men, spiced gingerbread cookies - Flat lay of a small white ceramic bowl of dark amber molasses, a small white ceramic bowl filled with pale yellow butter flavored shortening, a small white ceramic bowl of white granulated sugar, a single large whole uncracked brown egg, a small white ceramic bowl of clear hot water, a small white ceramic bowl of fine off-white baking soda powder, a small white ceramic bowl of ground cinnamon with warm reddish-brown color, a small white ceramic bowl of light beige ground ginger, a small white ceramic bowl of dark brown ground cloves, a small white ceramic bowl of pure white salt, a small white ceramic bowl heaped with white all-purpose flour, a small white ceramic bowl of powdered sugar, a small white ceramic bowl of creamy white milk, a small white ceramic bowl of clear vanilla extract placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Molasses: Provides moisture, chewiness, and that signature gingerbread flavor; Grandma’s brand is especially robust.
Butter Flavored Shortening: Keeps the dough soft without the risk of melting too fast like butter, a key to chewiness.
Sugar: Sweetens and helps create a tender crumb in the cookie.
Egg: Binds the dough and contributes to texture.
Vanilla: Enhances the warmth of all other spices and adds subtle sweetness.
Baking Soda: Reacts with hot water to keep the cookies light and tender.
Hot Water: Activates the baking soda for that desirable texture.
Ground Cloves, Cinnamon, Ginger: These classic spices bring layers of holiday flavor and fragrance.
Salt: Balances the sweetness and brings out the spices.
Flour: The foundation that holds everything together; six cups make a big batch!
Powdered Sugar: Base of the glaze—pulverized sugar gives a smooth finish.
Milk: Thins out the glaze for perfect dipping.

📝

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

One of the best parts about this chewy gingerbread man cookies recipe is how much room there is to make it your own. I love switching up the size of the cutters depending on who’s eating (smaller cookies for parties, larger if I’m headed to a gift exchange). You can also tweak the glaze with a splash of lemon juice for a tangy twist.

Spice it up: Sometimes I add a pinch of nutmeg or even cardamom to deepen the spice profile—it’s surprisingly good!
Gluten-Free Option: If you want gluten-free, try swapping half the all-purpose flour with a good blend like almond or oat flour; just expect a slightly different texture.
Less Sweet Variation: Reduce the powdered sugar in the glaze if you prefer a lighter coating—perfect for those who want just a hint of sweetness.
Decorate Away: If you love decorating, you can swap the glaze for royal icing once cookies have cooled for more detailed designs.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Chewy Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe

Step 1: Ready, Set, Prep!

The key to success with this recipe is preparation. Before you turn on your oven, line several cookie sheets with parchment or Silpat—trust me, you’ll want to bake in batches. Set up cooling racks above parchment to catch drips from the glaze later. Have a microwave-safe bowl ready for warming your dough if needed. Preheat your oven to 375°F so it’s perfectly hot when your dough is ready.

Step 2: The Molasses Magic

On medium heat, gently warm the molasses and shortening together in a pot, whisking vigorously at first to emulsify. Keep an eye on it – you don’t want to scorch the mixture. After a few minutes, it will turn into a thick, sticky sauce that coats your spoon beautifully. This step seals in moisture and chewiness, so don’t rush it.

Step 3: Cream and Combine

While the molasses mixture simmers, cream together the sugar, egg, and vanilla in your stand mixer until smooth and glossy. Then dissolve your baking soda in hot water and slowly mix this into the creamed ingredients. Toss in the spices and salt for that warm gingerbread aroma. Finally, pour the hot molasses mixture in and beat it all together until fully combined.

Step 4: Flour Power

Gradually add flour to the wet mixture. The dough will seem really sticky and full at first—don’t panic! Keep mixing until it soaks up all the flour and forms a very sticky but manageable dough. This texture is exactly what you want for soft, chewy cookies.

Step 5: Roll and Cut While Warm

Spray your countertop and rolling pin with nonstick spray instead of dusting flour—this trick makes rolling sticky dough way easier. Divide your dough into manageable batches, roll to about ½ inch thick, and cut out your gingerbread men—small cutters work best for me because the cookies bake evenly, but have fun with your favorites!

Step 6: Bake and Dip

Bake the cookies at 375°F for 5–10 minutes depending on their size. The small ones take just 5 minutes, while bigger ones need around 10. The trick? Remove each cookie when it’s firm enough to lift without squishing but still hot. Then, immediately dunk each cookie completely in your prepared vanilla glaze—this seals in their softness and leaves a beautiful shine.

Step 7: Cool and Store

Place glazed cookies on your cooling racks to let the glaze set and drip off. After a few minutes, rotate the cookies to prevent sticking. Once cooled, store them up to a month in an airtight container or freeze for longer freshness.

💡

Tips from My Kitchen

Keep Dough Warm: I warm my dough in the microwave for 5-10 seconds if it cools too much; it rolls out way easier that way.
No Extra Flour: Resist adding flour when rolling out the dough; use cooking spray to prevent sticking instead.
Glaze While Hot: Dipping cookies right when they come out of the oven locks in moisture and keeps them chewy.
Rotate Glazed Cookies: Turning cookies a few minutes after glazing prevents them from sticking to the cooling rack.

How to Serve Chewy Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe

Chewy Gingerbread Man Cookies, gingerbread cookies recipe, holiday gingerbread cookies, soft gingerbread men, spiced gingerbread cookies - A stack of seven rectangular gingerbread cookies covered in a shiny light brown icing is placed on a white marbled surface. On top, one cookie is broken in half to show the soft, slightly crumbly inside, which is a warm orange-brown color. The glaze has a smooth texture with a few small spots where it drips a little around the edges. The cookies are stacked unevenly, giving a casual, fresh-baked look with more cookies softly blurred in the background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Garnishes

I love to keep it simple with these cookies and use the vanilla glaze as the star garnish—its smooth sheen is so inviting. But sometimes, I’ll get a little fancy and pipe on tiny dots of royal icing or add colorful sprinkles for parties. If you want to stick with classic looks, mini chocolate chips for eyes also look adorable.

Side Dishes

These chewy gingerbread men go great alongside a hot cup of spiced tea or a creamy mug of eggnog. Serve with a side of fresh fruit or even a scoop of cinnamon ice cream for a festive dessert spread.

Creative Ways to Present

For family gatherings, I like to stack the cookies on a pretty cake stand with some pine sprigs or holly leaves tucked between. Wrapping small stacks in cellophane tied with ribbon makes adorable edible gifts. And last Christmas, I arranged them around a gingerbread house—so fun watching everyone “steal” their favorite shapes!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover cookies in airtight containers layered with parchment to keep them soft and prevent sticking. They last up to a month this way—long enough to savor a few with my coffee each morning (don’t judge!).

Freezing

Freezing works beautifully for these! I place the cookies in freezer bags, press out as much air as possible, and freeze for up to two months. When it’s time to enjoy, I thaw them overnight at room temperature, and they’re just as chewy and delicious.

Reheating

If your cookies get a little too firm in storage, a quick 5-10 second zap in the microwave softens them back up nicely. Just be careful not to overheat or they’ll turn crumbly.

FAQs

Can I use butter instead of shortening in this chewy gingerbread man cookies recipe?

You can swap butter for shortening, but expect a slightly different texture; butter tends to make cookies spread more and be crispier, while shortening keeps them soft and chewy. If you go butter, chill your dough well before baking to prevent excessive spreading.
Why is the dough so sticky, and how do I handle it?

The stickiness comes from the molasses and the warm dough, which helps keep the cookies chewy. Use cooking spray on your counters and rolling pin instead of flour to prevent sticking, and keep the dough warm by warming it briefly in the microwave if it cools down.
How long do these chewy gingerbread man cookies keep fresh?

Stored in an airtight container at room temperature, these cookies stay fresh and chewy for up to one month. For longer storage, freeze them as directed, and thaw before serving.
Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Yes! Try replacing half of the all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour blends like almond or oat flour, but note this may slightly change texture. For the best results, use a blend designed for baking to keep that chewy quality.

Final Thoughts

This Chewy Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe has been a holiday staple in my kitchen for years because it hits that perfect balance of soft, spiced, and sweetly glazed goodness. I can’t recommend it enough—once you try dunking warm gingerbread men in that vanilla glaze, you’ll wonder why you ever made gingerbread any other way! So grab your rolling pin, put on your favorite festive playlist, and dive into these irresistible cookies—you’ll be so glad you did.