Recipe Index

Ingredients

• 3 cups flour (, plain/all purpose)
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 1 tbsp ground ginger
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp mixed spice ((Note 1))
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves ((Note 2))
• 5 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter (, softened (Note 3))
• 3/4 cup brown sugar ((Note 4 re: light or dark brown))
• 1 large egg (, at room temperature (Note 5))
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup molasses, light / true ((NOT blackstrap)(Note 6))

Method

1. Whisk the flour, baking powder, ground ginger, ground cinnamon, mixed spice and ground cloves together in one bowl.
2. Cream the softened butter and brown sugar in another bowl with a stand mixer or electric beater for 2 minutes, until the mixture is light and fluffy.
3. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix for about 30 seconds, until they are combined.
4. Pour in the molasses and mix for 1 minute on a low speed.
5. Add the dry ingredients a quarter at a time, starting the mixer slowly so the flour does not fly, and mix for a further 15 seconds once everything is in; the dough should be soft and a little sticky.
6. Pat the dough into a disc, wrap it in cling wrap and refrigerate it for at least 2 hours, until it is firm enough to roll.
7. Heat the oven to 375F, set a shelf in the middle and line baking trays with baking paper.
8. Cut the chilled dough in half, return one half to the fridge and roll the other half between lightly floured sheets of baking paper until it is ⅛ in thick, peeling the paper off and smoothing it if it wrinkles.
9. Cut out gingerbread men with a cookie cutter, dipping the cutter in flour if the dough sticks, and lift the shapes onto a tray with a palette knife, tidying their edges with a butter knife.
10. Bake the first tray for 12 minutes for light golden biscuits, or 14 minutes for darker, crisper ones, then cool the gingerbread men completely on the tray.
11. Gather the scraps, press them together and repeat the rolling and cutting with the rest of the dough, working through the second and third trays one at a time until you have 18 to 20 gingerbread men.

Prep: 30 min · Cook: 40 min

Nutrition (per serving, where published)

Estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data