Ingredients
To make your own gingerbread man, you will need some basic ingredients: 1 cup of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 cup of light brown sugar, 1/2 cup of molasses, 1/2 cup of butter, 1 teaspoon of ground ginger, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon of ground cloves.
Instructions
Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together the butter and light brown sugar until light and fluffy. Next, add in the molasses, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, and mix until well combined. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, until everything is fully incorporated and a dough forms. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the gingerbread dough until it's about 1/4 inch thick. Using a gingerbread man cookie cutter, cut out the shapes. Place the cutout gingerbread men onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are slightly browned. Allow the gingerbread men to cool before decorating.
Decorating
To decorate your gingerbread men, you'll need to gather some supplies: Royal Icing, a variety of food coloring, sprinkles, and edible decorations. Start by making the Royal Icing. To do this, mix together 3 tablespoons of meringue powder, 4 cups of confectioners' sugar, and 6 tablespoons of warm water in a bowl. Beat on high with an electric mixer for about 5 minutes, until the icing is thick and glossy. Separate the icing into different bowls and add in the food coloring, using a separate bowl for each color. You can use a variety of colors to decorate your gingerbread men. To decorate, use a piping bag and the colored icing to draw shapes, lines, and designs onto the gingerbread men. Finally, top with sprinkles and edible decorations. Allow the Royal Icing to dry before serving.
Nutrition
One gingerbread man cookie, with Royal Icing and decorations, contains approximately 190 calories, 8 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 25 grams of carbohydrates, 16 grams of sugar, 1 gram of fiber, and 2 grams of protein. These cookies are high in sugar and fat, so it's best to enjoy them in moderation.
Making and decorating your own gingerbread man cookies is a fun activity to do during the holidays. Not only is it a great way to get creative, it's also a great way to bond with your family. Whether you decide to make the gingerbread men from scratch or use store-bought cookie dough, you'll have a great time decorating these festive cookies. So grab the ingredients, get creative, and have fun!