Gingerbread Men Cookies

Growing up, one of my favorite family traditions during the Christmas season was to decorate gingerbread men.  This recipe comes from my grandma’s cookbook and is such a fun recipe to do with the whole family.  As a kid, I found it so fun to create outfits or hair styles for our cookies with the delicious frosting!  I come from a very spread out family.  I am the oldest of four kids.  The difference between me and the youngest is just over 14 years.  My brother is almost 10 years old, so all the fun traditions I enjoyed as a young girl are still happening in my parent’s home.  My husband flew out of town last week for work, so my kiddos and I went to visit my parents and brother and sister who are still living at home.  During our visit, we decided to frost gingerbread men.  You may notice the frosting on these gingerbread men are not perfect, we had a lot of helpers in the kitchen, but I think it is the imperfections that show character :) I hope these cookies will add some holiday fun to your home, too!

GINGERBREAD COOKIES

Combine:
1 cup shortening
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup molasses
1 egg
1 Tbsp. vinegar

Add:
4-1/2 cups sifted flour
1 Tbsp. ginger
1-1/2 tsp. soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves

Mix and chill for 3 hours.  Roll 1/8 inch thick.  Use cookie cutters and cute out shapes. Bake at 350 F (Don’t bake too long.  Keep an close eye on them- a touch of dark around the edges is just about too long)

Frosting

1/2 cup butter, softened
3 Tbsp. milk
2 tsp. vanilla
1 (16 oz) box powdered sugar

Mix ingredients together.  You can add more powdered sugar or milk until frosting reaches desired consistency.  Separate into separate bowls and mix in desired food colors.  Frost the cookies.

Enjoy!

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Comments

  1. Trish @ Uncommon

    These are adorable! Our readers would LOVE these! We are having a Home for the Holidays link party and would be so excited to have these little goodies! www.uncommondesignsonline.com

  2. MrsFoxsSweets

    These look great and I love the colors you used! Gingerbread men are on my list of to make things before Christmas, I may just try your recipe! I would love if your would stop by and share it at Mrs Foxs Sweet Party :) http://mrsfoxssweets.blogspot.com/

  4. Laura

    So cute!!! I feel dumb asking but what kind of vinegar?

  5. paula

    Mom never made Gingerbread cookies. I don't even think I knew about them until I was older and people I knew talked about their traditions of decorating them. From that time on I kidded Mom that the fact I turned out the way I did was because she never made me Gingerbread cookies . . . great oral Gingerbread tradition came out of this.

  6. Luma

    THEY ARE SOOOOOOOOOOOO CUTE!!! my parents don't make gingerbread stuff so my sister and i were always begging to buy gingerbread men at the shops!http://a-day-in-the-life-of-luma.blogspot.com/

  7. Ellen Zames

    I've been wanting to make these with my kids and needed a good recipe!! I'm happy you posted this! :)Ellenhttp://everydaysisters.blogspot.com

  8. Linda

    What a fun tradition! I love gingerbread and can't believe I have never made these! This looks like a great recipe. Thanks!

  9. Rachel

    perfect Christmas cookie, I love this so much! i need to set aside a day where i can just recreate all your delish recipes :) http://chooseconfidence.blogspot.com/

  10. Jolyn

    My sister who is the creative one in our family use to make these as ornaments to hang on her Christmas tree each year. It was torture going to her house and smelling her yummy cookies and not being able to eat them. Your blog has inspired me to make my own. Wish me luck!

  11. kitchen flavours

    Your cookies are adorable! These are perfect for Christmas! Have a lovely day!

  13. Janet

    I made these today and they were SO yummy! They went on plate for neighbor gifts after I saved one out for each of my kids. Boy were they ever sad to see them go bye, bye!

  14. Ruby Jean

    Hi Hi Hi.....I am so EXCITED to have landed on your blog... It Looks so nice and YUMMY here... :) These little gingerbread men are just the CUTEST one's on the block... I just signed up as your NEWEST follower and I would LOVE for you to link up here http://shoprubyjean.com/2011/12/sew-crafty-tuesday-linky-2-and-highlights/Oh and if you are EVER in need of another TASTE TESTER please feel free to give me a BUZZ!!! :)

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