Gingerbread Men with Zesty Lemon Icing

By Sally ThompsonJuly 4, 2025

Bake these adorable Gingerbread Men with a zingy lemon icing Perfect xmas cookie recipes for the holiday Theyre spiced fun to decorate and utterly delicious Get baking ... Family Favorites

Table of Contents

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Recipe Introduction

Quick Hook

Fancy baking some festive treats? Our xmas cookie recipes include a delightful Gingerbread Men with Zesty Lemon Icing, ready to bring holiday cheer. The lemon icing just makes these zing.

Brief Overview

Gingerbread men have a long history, steeped in Christmas Cookie Recipes Holiday traditions. This recipe sits at a medium difficulty, taking roughly 2 hours, and yields about 24 delicious cookies.

They’re perfect for sharing!

Main Benefits

These delicious christmas cookies are more than just tasty. They are a best christmas cookie recipe that are enriched with warming spices.

Baking them makes a heartwarming activity with your loved ones. Plus, gifting them is such a personal touch.

So what makes this recipe special?

Getting Started

Right, let’s gather your ingredients for these holiday cookie recipes . We'll need flour, spices, butter, sugar, molasses, an egg, and vanilla for the cookies.

And for the lemon icing?

Just powdered sugar, fresh lemon juice, and lemon zest. Honestly, the zest really makes it pop.

Before we get cracking, make sure you have your bowls, mixer, rolling pin, gingerbread man cutters, and baking sheets ready. Prep is key , as they say!

Let the Baking Begin!

We are whipping up some homemade Christmas cookie gifts that are absolutely divine. Mixing the dough is the first step. Don’t overmix it! Chilling helps.

Gingerbread men recipe Christmas with lemon icing is what Christmas is all about! They're perfect for impressing your friends and family.

Decorating them with fancy icing can be really fun! I always end up with more icing on me than the cookies though haha!

Enjoy those xmas cookies . They will be a hit. Have a wonderful holiday season! I hope you have enjoyed these Christmas cookie decorating ideas

Okay, right then! Time to dust off the old rolling pin. We're tackling xmas cookie recipes ! Let’s focus on a gingerbread cookie recipe with a lemon icing.

Gingerbread cookies are a backbone of Christmas traditions. They are widely popular, you know?

Ingredients & Equipment

Let's gather what you need for delicious Christmas cookies . Honestly, the right tools and ingredients are half the battle. No stress, yeah? I'll tell you what to get and how to tell if it's good stuff.

Main Ingredients - The Cookie Crew

Here's the shopping list! I've done both US and metric, so no excuses!

Flour: 3 cups (360g) all-purpose. Look for flour that's unbleached for the best flavour.
Baking Soda: ¾ teaspoon (3g) . Makes them nice and puffy!
Spices: ¾ teaspoon (3g) cinnamon, ½ teaspoon (1.5g) ginger, ¼ teaspoon (0.5g) cloves, ¼ teaspoon (0.5g) nutmeg. Freshly ground spices make all the difference!
Salt: ½ teaspoon (3g) .
Butter: ½ cup (1 stick, 113g) unsalted, softened. It needs to be proper soft, not melted.
Brown Sugar: ½ cup (100g) packed. Dark or light, your choice!
Molasses: ½ cup (120ml) . Proper old-fashioned flavour, innit?
Egg: 1 large.
Vanilla Extract: 1 teaspoon (5ml) . Good quality makes a difference!
Icing Sugar: 2 cups (240g) , sifted.
Lemon Juice: 3-4 tablespoons (45-60ml) fresh. Use proper lemons!
Lemon Zest: 1 teaspoon (5ml) .

Seasoning Notes - Spice Up Your Life

Spices are your friends! Cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg are essential. Try cardamom for a twist. You can sub maple syrup for molasses. It'll be slightly different, but still fab.

Equipment Needed - Keep It Simple

You don't need fancy gadgets. I always say, keep it simple.

Mixing Bowls: For mixing, obviously!
Mixer: Hand mixer or stand mixer – whatever you have.
Measuring Cups/Spoons: Don't guess, measure!
Rolling Pin: For rolling out the dough.
Cookie Cutters: Gingerbread men, stars, whatever you fancy!
Baking Sheets: Lined with parchment paper.
Wire Rack: For cooling the cookies.
Piping Bag: Or a zip-top bag with a tiny hole cut in the corner.

Right, with all that sorted, you're ready to bake some homemade Christmas cookie gifts . Stay tuned for the next step.

We will be talking about making delicious Christmas cookies ! Remember Christmas Cookie Recipes Holiday are the best! I hope you will make best Christmas cookie recipe for your loved ones.

I am keen to show you Christmas cookie decorating ideas . This Gingerbread men recipe Christmas will be a banger.

Gingerbread Men with Zesty Lemon Icing presentation

Let's Bake: Gingerbread Men with Zesty Lemon Icing

Honestly, nothing screams festive cheer quite like gingerbread men recipe christmas ! These spiced biscuits are a classic and for good reason.

They're fun to make, even more fun to decorate and taste incredible. So, ditch the shop-bought stuff and let's make some delicious christmas cookies !

Prep: Mise en Place and Merry Mishaps

Before we start, let’s get our ducks in a row. This is essential mise en place . Grab all your ingredients: flour, spices, butter, sugar, molasses, eggs, and lemon.

Make sure the butter is softened, it really helps to have all your elements ship-shape! This simple step is great for time-saving organization tips.

I once tried to skip this step and ended up with rock-hard butter in my dough. Never again.

Gingerbread Step-by-Step

Here's how we make these classic Xmas cookies :

Whisk together 3 cups flour, ¾ teaspoon baking soda, ¾ teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ginger, ¼ teaspoon cloves, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, and ½ teaspoon salt.
Cream together ½ cup softened butter and ½ cup brown sugar until fluffy.
Beat in ½ cup molasses, 1 egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet until just combined.
Chill the dough for at least 1 hour . This is super important.
Preheat the oven to 350° F ( 175° C) . Roll out the dough, cut out shapes.
Bake for 8- 12 minutes . Look for lightly browned edges, the visual cues for doneness.
Cool completely. Decorate with lemon icing.

Pro Tips for Perfect Holiday Cookie Recipes

Want to really nail these spiced christmas cookies ? I have some ideas. First off, don't overmix the dough. Overmixing will make a tough cookie and ain't nobody want that.

Secondly, chill the dough. Trust me.

Also, when making the lemon icing for gingerbread cookies , start with less lemon juice and add gradually until you get the consistency you want.

I have seen many home cooks ruin the icing and don't let that be you.

You can make the dough ahead of time and keep it in the fridge for a couple of days. It's a good way to make homemade christmas cookie gifts , so get baking!

So there you have it, a simple Best Christmas Cookie Recipe , made easy. Give it a go and share your christmas cookie decorating ideas with me. Happy baking and Merry Christmas.

Right, let's chat about these Gingerbread Men with Zesty Lemon Icing . Honestly, getting these just right takes a bit of love.

Here are a few bits and bobs to help you out. We want to be making some of the best Christmas cookie recipe out there.

Recipe Notes

Serving 'Em Up in Style

Forget just chucking them on a plate! Think about presentation. A light dusting of icing sugar can look proper fancy.

Or, arrange them on a tiered cake stand with some cranberries and rosemary sprigs.

These delicious Christmas cookies go brilliantly with a mug of steaming hot chocolate. Maybe even a cheeky splash of Baileys in there. They are perfect as homemade Christmas cookie gifts !

Storage Secrets

If you're not scoffing them all at once (hard, I know!), these xmas cookies will keep in an airtight container for up to three days. Keep them at room temperature, alright?

Freezing isn't ideal for the iced cookies. The icing can get a bit weird and soggy when defrosted. Better to just bake what you need, innit?

To reheat, you don't really need to. They're great at room temperature. If you must, a very quick blast in the microwave.

Variations on a Theme

Fancy something different? For a chocolatey twist, add two tablespoons of cocoa powder to the dry mix. Honestly, it's lush.

Want to make these dairy-free? Swap the butter for a plant-based alternative. You can find tons in the supermarket now. For the icing? Just use plant-based butter.

For seasonal ingredient swaps , think about using orange zest instead of lemon for a festive feel. This brings the spiced Christmas cookies to the next level.

Nutrition, Simplified

Each cookie is about 120 calories. This gives you roughly 1 gram of protein, and 4 grams of fat, 20 grams of carbs, and about 10 grams of sugar.

Remember, this is a rough estimate.

These holiday cookie recipes are more of a treat than a health food, you know? But hey, a little bit of what you fancy does you good, as they say.

So there you have it. A gingerbread men recipe Christmas you can tweak to your heart's content. These aren't just xmas cookie recipes , these are memories.

Get baking! Get Decorating! Have a wonderful Christmas cookie decorating ideas .

Delicious Xmas Cookies Zesty Gingerbread Men Recipe

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my gingerbread men spreading too much when I bake them? Is there a fix?

Ah, the dreaded cookie spread! This usually happens when the dough is too warm. Make sure you chill the gingerbread dough for at least an hour before rolling it out and baking. Also, ensure your oven temperature is accurate; an oven that's too hot can cause cookies to spread before they set. Using parchment paper or a silicone baking mat on your baking sheet can also help prevent spreading.

Can I make the gingerbread dough ahead of time? How long will it keep?

Absolutely, in the busy run-up to Christmas, anything that saves time is a lifesaver, innit? The gingerbread dough can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Just wrap it tightly in plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out. You can also freeze the dough for up to a month; just thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before rolling and baking.

I'm looking for easy xmas cookie recipes. Is this gingerbread recipe too complicated?

While this gingerbread man recipe has a few steps, it's certainly manageable for bakers of all levels! If you are looking for an easier recipe, you can skip the lemon icing and decorate with simple sprinkles or just enjoy them plain. The key is to take your time and follow the instructions. Baking should be a joy, not a chore!

What's the best way to store these Gingerbread Men with Zesty Lemon Icing so they stay fresh?

Once the icing has completely set, store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. They should stay fresh for about 3-5 days, or even a little longer if the container is well-sealed. To prevent the cookies from sticking together, you can place a sheet of parchment paper between layers.

Can I substitute anything for the molasses in these xmas cookie recipes? I'm all out!

Molasses gives gingerbread its signature flavour and moistness, but if you're in a bind, you can substitute with dark corn syrup or honey. Keep in mind that the flavour profile will be slightly different; the cookies won't have that rich, deep molasses taste. You might also need to adjust the amount of liquid slightly, so add it gradually until the dough reaches the right consistency.

How can I make sure my gingerbread men are perfectly shaped and don't have jagged edges?

A few tips will get you shipshape gingerbread men! Make sure you roll the dough out evenly to about ¼ inch thickness. Use sharp cookie cutters and press straight down without twisting. If the dough is sticking to the cutter, dip it in flour before each use. After cutting, chill the cut-out shapes on the baking sheet for a few minutes before baking – this will help them hold their shape even better.