Chocolate Sugar-Cookie Gingerbread Men

I have a fun twist on a classic Christmas cookie for you! Do you love the idea of gingerbread men, but you don’t actually like the taste of gingerbread men? Don’t worry, I have the perfect solution.

Gingerbread men are known as the best Christmas treat. Everyone wants gingerbread men. But what happens when you do not actually like the taste of gingerbread. That’s OK. Using a chocolate sugar cookie recipe, you can have the delicious taste of a cookie you like while making it look like gingerbread men.

This Christmas cookie recipe ranks right up there with some of my other favorites like Christmas Monster Cookies and Classic Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies and Rocky Road Cookies.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

This is a chocolate sugar cookie recipe that can be cut into shapes, like the traditional sugar cookies that everyone thinks of when it comes to Christmas cookies. By using this recipe, you get to shape the cookies, opposed to the soft sugars. Using a gingerbread man cookie cutter, you can roll the chocolate sugar cookie dough out, cut out the shapes and then bake.

You can make royal icing or use whatever type of cookie decorating frosting you like. As with gingerbread men, the entire family can have fun decorating these cookies.

When you are done, the only way someone will know that these gingerbread men are not a traditional gingerbread is to take a bite. And then, these cookies are so good, they will not mind.

You can cater to those who love the idea of gingerbread men without having to force them to eat actual gingerbread.

Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
½ tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 ½ cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder.

In a mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, and then vanilla.

Slowly add flour mixture and beat just until combined.

Remove dough from bowl to waxed paper or plastic wrap. Shape into a square, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to overnight.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.

Roll out dough to ¼-inch thickness and cut using cookie cutter. Place on baking sheet.

cutting chocolate sugar cookies into gingerbread men

Bake for 9-11 minutes until edges are set. Allow to cool on baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.

Cool completely before decorating as desired.

Decorating Ingredients

This is arguably the most fun part! I like to set up a decorating station for my kids and their friends (and some of the parents!) that includes as many decorating ingredients as I can find. Here are some staples:

Royal Icing: Made with powdered sugar, egg whites, and lemon juice, and comes to a nice, shiny finish.

Sprinkles: No recipe necessary. Just buy as is and cover your figures with as much or as little as you like.

Small Candies: M&Ms, Smarties, Skittles, Reese’s Pieces, gumdrops, and candy hearts all make great eyes and buttons.

Chocolate: Whether as chips or drizzle, you can never have too much chocolate — even with chocolate sugar-cookie gingerbread men!

Peanut Butter/Nutella: You can create a fancy swirling effect on the figures, or use them as clothes or even hair.

FAQs

Why are my cookies really brittle?

You have either overbaked (too long or too hot), used too much flour, didn’t use enough wet ingredients (eggs, butter), and/or your ingredients were past their best.

Does this not require molasses?

While molasses is a traditional ingredient in gingerbread men, in this recipe, we rely on the cocoa powder and sugar to supply that rich and sweet taste.

If I wanted a hint of ginger, how much would you recommend?

I would add 1 or 2 teaspoons to the dry ingredients.

Let the cookies cool down to room temperature. Line an airtight container with parchment or wax paper. Line the container with the cookies. Don’t let them touch each other. If you need to layer them, put a sheet of paper over the bottom layer. They can be stored in a cool, dry place for up to 7 days. I don’t recommend refrigerating these cookies, as they will dry out and lose their flavour.

Other Christmas Recipes You Might Like:

Chocolate Sugar Cookies Gingerbread Men

About a Mom

Do you love the idea of gingerbread men, but you don’t actually like the taste of gingerbread men? Don’t worry, I have the perfect solution. Try this Chocolate Sugar Cookie recipe.

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Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
1 ½ cup sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder.
In a mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, and then vanilla.
Slowly add flour mixture and beat just until combined.
Remove dough from bowl to waxed paper or plastic wrap. Shape into a square, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to overnight.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
Roll out dough to ¼ inch thickness and cut using cookie cutter. Place on baking sheet.
Bake for 9 to 11 minutes until edges are set. Allow to cool on baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.
Cool completely before decorating as desired.