Giant Gingerbread Men: Baking with Kids

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Building gingerbread (or graham cracker) houses is one of my family’s favorite Christmastime traditions–the more elaborate and candy-laden, the better. But this year we opted to change up our family tradition by following a Gingerbread Man story theme, complete with baking and decorating giant Gingerbread Men.

This dark, spicy gingerbread dough bakes into a cookie with a slightly crisp edge and semi-soft center and rolls easily–perfect for cutting into gingerbread shapes or pressing into a giant gingerbread man pan.

Make some of these cookies to go along with your favorite storytelling of The Gingerbread Man, or as part of your holiday baking. Here’s how:

Giant Gingerbread Cookie Dough

1/2 cup softened butter, shortening, or oil
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
3/4 cup molasses
1 teaspoons vanilla extract
3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
cooking spray

Instructions for Giant Gingerbread Men

Cream butter and sugars. Beat in egg, molasses and vanilla until completely incorporated. Add dry ingredients until thoroughly combined. Dough should be soft (not dry or crumbly) but not sticky. If sticky, add a few tablespoons of flour until desired consistency is achieved.

If cutting dough with cookie cutters, cover dough and chill for 1 hour. Roll to desired thickness and cut into shapes. Bake at 350F for 8-10 minutes or until edges are slightly brown. Cool completely before decorating.

If pressing into a giant gingerbread man pan, chilling is optional. Spray pan with cooking spray, and press a thin, consistent later of dough into the pan. Bake at 350F for 9-11 minutes or until edges are slightly brown. Carefully turn pan upside down on a wire rack to release cookie. Allow to cool completely before decorating.

Decorating the Gingerbread

If making giant gingerbread men, place a piece of waxed paper, foil, or a rectangle cookie sheet under the cookie for easier transportation. Then, their favorite part!

Any toppings will do. We used squeezable frosting tubes and an assortment of small candies.