Old Fashioned Gingerbread Man Recipe

Choose an old fashioned gingerbread man recipe and bake delicious cookie treats for your youngsters. Forget store-bought, not only are homemade gingerbread men and women tastier, but they are lots of fun for kids to decorate. It's a wonderful way to create fond childhood memories.

Old Fashioned Gingerbread Man Recipes

Mom's Recipe Scrapbooks (c.1920s)

Gingerbread Man Cookies

2 cups melted shortening
3 cups molasses
1 cup brown sugar
8 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 cups buttermilk or sour milk

Heat molasses and sugar together. When sugar is dissolved, add shortening and stir until melted. Remove from heat. Sift flour, salt, baking soda, and spices together.

Add dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk. Stir until a soft, smooth dough is formed. Work dough with hands five minutes.

Chill dough at least four hours in refrigerator, then turn onto lightly floured board and roll about 1/4-inch thick.

Cut gingerbread man shapes with cookie cutter, place cookies on greased cookie sheet. Glaze with beaten egg and bake at 350°F for 20 to 25 minutes until done.

Old Fashioned Gingerbread Man

Decorated gingerbread men are a favorite cookie treat at any time of year, and they're so much fun to make.

1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 cup molasses, warm
1 teaspoon baking soda
1-1/2 teaspoons warm water

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup raisins for decorating

Cream together shortening, sugar, egg, and warm molasses. Dissolve baking soda in warm water, and then add to the egg mixture.

Next, add flour, spices, and salt; mix it all up until well blended. Cover and allow to chill in refrigerator overnight.

Prepare a floured surface and roll cookie dough about 1/8- to 1/4-inch thick. Cut gingerbread men and place an inch or two apart on a greased cookie sheet for baking.

For a traditional decoration, use raisins for eyes, mouths, buttons, and so on. Bake in moderate oven (325°F) for about 10 minutes until done.

Old Fashioned Gingerbread Man Recipe

Traditional Gingerbread Men

350 grams (2-1/2 cups approx.) all-purpose flour
Mixed spice of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg
1 pinch salt
1 tablespoon ground ginger
150 grams (1/2 cup) honey
1/2 tablespoon bicarbonate of soda
1 egg
160 grams (3/4 cup) brown sugar, packed
150 grams (1/2 cup) butter
Icing to decorate

Method:

Mix all dry ingredients, add liquid ingredients, put in the fridge for 2 hours. Press dough, cut gingerbread men shapes, put on baking paper on a tray. Cook in oven for 10 minutes at 80°C (175°F). Apply icing.

Gingerbread Man Serving Suggestion

My, doesn't he look relaxed while floating in hot chocolate? This is a sensational serving suggestion for gingerbread men that's certain to win you compliments. Treat your gingerbread man to a cup of hot chocolate!