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 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

Jump to Recipe· 4.8 from 26 reviews

If you’ve ever dreamed of biting into a cookie that’s bursting with warm spices, chewy texture, and that classic holiday charm, you’re in for a treat. This Chewy Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe is honestly one of my all-time favorites—and I promise, once you try it, you’ll be hooked. It’s got the perfect balance of molasses sweetness, just enough spice, and the kind of chewiness that makes every bite utterly delightful. Stick around, because I’m sharing every single tip you need so your batch turns out flawless every time.

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Why This Recipe Works

Perfect Balance of Spices: A blend of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves create that warm, nostalgic gingerbread flavor.
Chewy Texture Every Time: The combo of molasses and shortening keeps these cookies soft and chewy, not dry or crumbly.
Glazed to Perfection: Dipping the cookies warm in a vanilla glaze adds the right touch of sweetness and shine.
Designed for Efficiency: Step-by-step instructions with little tricks make it easy even if you’re new to gingerbread cookies.

Chewy Gingerbread Man Cookies, gingerbread cookies with chewy texture, holiday gingerbread treats, easy gingerbread man recipe, soft 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

I love how all the ingredients in this Chewy Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe come together to create cookies that impress both in flavor and texture. The molasses brings depth, the spices add warmth, and the flour and shortening give that chewy, tender bite you want. Here’s a little insight into each ingredient so you know exactly what to look for at the store.

Molasses: Grandma’s brand is my go-to because it has that rich, robust flavor without bitterness—key to depth in gingerbread.
Butter-Flavored Shortening: It delivers chewiness and helps cookies keep their shape while baking—don’t skip this for butter alone.
Sugar: Granulated sugar adds sweetness and a slight crunch that balances the soft dough.
Egg: The binder that holds everything together and adds moisture.
Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla rounds out the flavors beautifully.
Baking Soda: Helps the cookies rise just enough to stay soft and fluffy.
Hot Water: Dissolves the baking soda for better incorporation and helps the dough come together smoothly.
Ground Cloves, Cinnamon, and Ginger: The classic gingerbread spice combo that makes these cookies unmistakably festive.
Salt: Just a pinch to balance the sweetness and enhance all the spices.
Flour: Six cups to create the sturdy but tender dough you’ll roll out and cut into perfect little men.
Powdered Sugar (Glaze): For that sweet, silky coating that clings to warm cookies like a dream.
Milk (Glaze): To thin the glaze just right—too much and it runs off; too little, and it’s too thick.

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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.

Tweak to Your Taste

I’m all about making recipes your own, and this chewy gingerbread cookie recipe is super forgiving when it comes to personalization. Over time, I’ve played around with the spices and the glaze—not only to suit my taste but also to reflect the season or who’s coming for cookie swaps.

Spice It Up: If you like a little extra ginger kick, add an extra half teaspoon of ground ginger—I love how it livens up the flavor without overpowering.
For a Softer Cookie: Swap half the shortening for butter, but keep in mind it might spread a bit more during baking.
Glaze Swap: Try orange zest or a bit of maple extract in the glaze for a seasonal twist—I found it gives a lovely fruity note that guests always ask about.
Allergy-Friendly: Use a dairy-free milk in the glaze and vegetable shortening for a vegan-friendly version that still tastes fantastic.

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

Step 1: Get Your Space Ready Before You Start

Trust me, this step makes the whole process go smoother. Set out multiple cookie sheets lined with parchment or a silicone mat—because you’re going to want to move quickly when baking. Arrange several cooling racks nearby, ideally over parchment paper to catch glaze drips (I use four racks to keep everything organized). Also, keep a glass bowl handy for warming the dough if it cools down while you’re working. Preheat your oven to 375°F and have everything within arm’s reach; it’s all about timing.

Step 2: Make the Molasses and Shortening Mixture

Over medium heat, combine the molasses and butter-flavored shortening in a pot. Stir it gently and let it simmer for 2-5 minutes, but don’t let it scorch! This step might feel like nothing’s happening at the start, but whisking vigorously helps emulsify the two, and soon you’ll notice the mixture thickening enough to coat a spoon—they should combine into a sticky, delicious-looking sauce.

Step 3: Cream Sugar, Egg & Vanilla

While your molasses mixture is doing its thing, grab your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat together the sugar, egg, and vanilla until smooth and creamy—this gives your cookies lift and sweetness without graininess.

Step 4: Mix in Baking Soda and Spices

Dissolve your baking soda in hot water to help it fully activate, then stir it gently into the creamed mixture on low speed. Next, add the ground cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and salt—this is where your kitchen starts smelling like pure holiday magic, trust me!

Step 5: Combine and Beat in Flour

Pour in the hot molasses-shortening mixture and beat until everything’s just incorporated. Then, slowly start adding the flour—a couple cups at a time. The dough will feel incredibly sticky and heavy, but that’s exactly right. No need to add extra flour; the dough soaks it up the more you mix, turning into a thick, sticky, beautifully rich dough ready for rolling.

Step 6: Roll Out the Dough and Cut Your Gingerbread Men

Spray your countertop and rolling pin generously with nonstick spray—DON’T use flour here, or you’ll mess with the dough’s chewiness. Divide about a third of the dough out at a time and roll it to about half an inch thick. I love using tiny cookie cutters for these little gingerbread men—they’re just so cute and bake faster! Keep the dough warm because it rolls out way easier; if it cools, zap it in the microwave for 5–10 seconds.

Step 7: Bake and Glaze While Hot

Bake your cookies at 375°F anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes depending on size. The small little guys only need five minutes, while larger ones take up to ten. When you pull them out, do this: dunk them right away—while they’re hot—into your vanilla glaze. This is a game changer! The glaze sets into a perfect thin layer of sweetness that clings to the cookie’s surface. Place the glazed cookies on the cooling racks to drip and dry—then, rotate them after a few minutes so they don’t stick.

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Pro Tips for Making Chewy Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe

Keep Dough Warm: I learned this the hard way—cold dough cracks and is difficult to roll, so warming it slightly keeps it pliable.
No Extra Flour on Rolling Surface: Using spray instead of flour preserves the chewy texture perfectly.
Dunk Right Out of the Oven: Don’t wait—if cookies are too soft, they’ll break when dipped. Bake just enough for them to hold shape.
Rotate Cooling Rack Cookies: To prevent sticking, flip cookies gently after glaze firms up a bit.

How to Serve Chewy Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe

Garnishes

For me, simple is best when garnishing. I usually add a few delicate icing details with royal icing or melted chocolate piping to create faces and buttons—nothing too fancy, just enough to bring the little gingerbread men to life. If you’re feeling festive, mini chocolate chips or tiny colored sugar pearls also make adorable decorating touches without overpowering the chewy sweetness.

Side Dishes

These cookies beautifully complement a hot mug of spiced cider or a creamy chai latte. Around the holidays, I like serving them alongside a cheese plate with mild cheeses and dried fruits, which creates a lovely balance of savory and sweet flavors for guests.

Creative Ways to Present

For parties, I arrange the gingerbread men standing upright on decorative platters with small “snow-dusted” powdered sugar sprinkled lightly over, and tie a little ribbon around their necks for an extra festive vibe. I even tried making gingerbread “cookie bouquets” once—stacking the cookies on sticks wrapped in cellophane—and it made a charming edible centerpiece!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep any leftover gingerbread cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They stay wonderfully chewy for up to a month, which honestly surprises me every time! I like to layer them between sheets of parchment paper to keep the glaze intact and prevent sticking.

Freezing

Freezing works like a charm. I store the cooled, glazed cookies in a freezer bag with as much air pressed out as possible. When I want some, I pull them out and let them thaw at room temp for about an hour. They keep up to two months in the freezer, which is a life saver during busy holiday seasons.

Reheating

If you want to freshen up a softened cookie from storage, a quick zap in the microwave for about 5 seconds works perfectly to bring back that chewiness without melting the glaze. Avoid heating too long or the cookie might become too soft and lose its structure.

FAQs

Can I make the dough ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can prepare the dough, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Since the dough is sticky, warming it slightly before rolling helps—you can microwave it for about 5-10 seconds to soften it back up.
Why do my cookies sometimes turn out dry instead of chewy?

This usually happens if you add too much flour or over-bake. Make sure to follow the recipe’s notes about not adding extra flour when rolling and check the cookies early—small cookies only need about 5 minutes. Also, using shortening instead of butter helps keep them moist.
Can I use butter instead of shortening?

You can, but the texture will change slightly—the cookies may spread more and be less chewy. If you substitute, consider chilling the dough longer before rolling and watch baking times closely to avoid over-spreading.
Is it necessary to dunk the cookies in the glaze while hot?

It’s highly recommended! The warm cookie’s moisture helps the glaze stick beautifully and set evenly. If the cookies cool too much, the glaze won’t adhere as nicely and can slide off.

Final Thoughts

This Chewy Gingerbread Man Cookies Recipe is one of those heartwarming kitchen treasures that I return to year after year—not just for the taste but for the memories it creates. Whether you’re baking alone, with family, or for friends, these cookies bring an instant cozy vibe and smiles all around. I can’t wait for you to try them and make your own sweet gingerbread traditions. Happy baking!