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Whole Wheat Gingerbread Men

December 23, 2010 by Laura 123 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

Whole Wheat Gingerbread Men
It may be that I’ve gone a little loopy with all of the recent Christmas preparations, but for some reason I got really hung up on what I should call these cookies. Are they Gingerbread Men? Or are they Gingerbread Boys? But then, I didn’t want to leave out the girls…so maybe some of them should be called Gingerbread Girls. Or maybe I just go with the politically correct name and call them Gingerbread People?

When did Christmas baking become so complicated? :)

Gingerbread Men/Boys/Girls/People/CookiesYum

1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup sucanat
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg
1 Tablespoon vinegar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
Sucanat Powdered Sugar Frosting

Cream butter, sucanat and molasses together. Add eggs, vinegar, baking powder, ginger, baking soda and spices. Stir in flour and mix well. Cover and chill dough in the refrigerator for 2 hours (more is fine).

Roll out dough on a well floured surface to about 1/8 inch thickness. Use a cookie cutter to cut into desired shape. Bake cookies about 1 inch apart on a cookie sheet in a 375° oven for 5-8 minutes.

If you don’t put your cookies 1 inch apart on the pan, you’ll end up with one cookie kicking another cookie in the head. I tell ya, I can’t even get my cookies to behave sometimes. A mother’s work is never done…

I recommend spreading Sucanat Powdered Sugar Frosting on the cookies. I had a little bit of Chocolate Fudge Frosting leftover in the fridge and used that for faces and buttons.

I figured they wouldn’t mind if I put chocolate on their faces. I know I would never mind if someone wanted to put chocolate on my face. ;)

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Filed Under: Christmas Cookies, Desserts, Recipes Tagged With: cinnamon, ginger, gingerbread cookies, healthy, recipe, sucanat, whole wheat

Comments

  1. Deanna says

    December 23, 2010 at 3:55 am

    Can’t wait to try these, they look yummy!!!!

    Reply
  2. Chung Li says

    December 23, 2010 at 4:23 am

    I would love to try this!

    Reply
  3. Mary says

    December 23, 2010 at 4:46 am

    I made whole wheat gingerbread cookies for the first time this year. Yum!

    Reply
  4. [email protected] The Dollar Hollering Homemaker says

    December 23, 2010 at 5:06 am

    Looks great.

    Reply
  5. Bonnie says

    December 23, 2010 at 5:40 am

    Love that these are a healthier version. Hope you’re having a great Christmas week!

    Reply
  6. DorthyM says

    December 23, 2010 at 5:41 am

    Ohh, those look so good!

    Reply
  7. Beth says

    December 23, 2010 at 5:42 am

    Mmmm…but is there any substitute for molasses? I can’t find molasses in Asia! ;)

    Reply
  8. Christy says

    December 23, 2010 at 5:54 am

    I am having more trouble substituting (is that a word?) whole wheat in my cookie recipes. My taste buds are so used to the white flour in cookies….

    Reply
  9. Kellie says

    December 23, 2010 at 6:12 am

    They look yummy, whatever you want to call them!

    Reply
  10. Kathy S says

    December 23, 2010 at 6:12 am

    If my kitchen wasn’t in renovation mode, I would be trying these today!

    Reply
  11. Joanna S. says

    December 23, 2010 at 6:23 am

    Yum! Is it any wonder we all walk away after Christmas with our pants too tight?! :)

    Reply
  12. Sweetpeas says

    December 23, 2010 at 6:31 am

    Those are so cute!! My husband has agreed to make cookies with our kids today, but he might shoot me if I suggested they make ANOTHER kind hmmm . . . .

    Reply
  13. Brooke says

    December 23, 2010 at 6:33 am

    Looks good. What type of molasses do you use? Last year, my friend made them with blackstrap!! Yikes, were they dark, and strong tasting! By the color of yours, it doesn’t look like you use that kind. I’ve never thought to use chocolate icing! Yum!

    Reply
  14. susan says

    December 23, 2010 at 6:34 am

    your gingerbread men look cute. wish i could do the whole wheat baking. dh can’t tolerate it.

    Reply
  15. Katie M. says

    December 23, 2010 at 6:38 am

    Great recipe!

    Reply
  16. Tracey says

    December 23, 2010 at 6:39 am

    Since I don’t care much for gingerbread, my daughters and I make “gingerbread” men out of a chocolate cookie dough. I substitute some of the white flour called for in the recipe with whole wheat flour, making them at least a tad healthier!

    Reply
  17. Kelly Perry says

    December 23, 2010 at 6:42 am

    another hit! thanks!

    Reply
  18. Tricia says

    December 23, 2010 at 6:46 am

    My 2 year old will be so excited to make these! He loves gingerbread men…but usually calls them “The Muffin Man”. So cute!!

    Reply
  19. [email protected] says

    December 23, 2010 at 6:49 am

    So cute! I wouldn’t mind if someone put chocolate on my face either.:)

    Reply
  20. Lesley Wert says

    December 23, 2010 at 6:55 am

    They are cute whatever you call them!

    Reply
  21. Chris says

    December 23, 2010 at 7:08 am

    looks good!!

    Reply
  22. Christi says

    December 23, 2010 at 7:10 am

    I so want to try these products, especially those cookies! YUM!

    Reply
  23. Danielle says

    December 23, 2010 at 7:11 am

    These look so fun! The kids would love helping with them!

    Reply
  24. Lauri says

    December 23, 2010 at 7:16 am

    These look very good, my boys would love these.

    Reply
  25. Jodi says

    December 23, 2010 at 7:25 am

    Looks good, can’t wait to try them!

    Reply
  26. Angie says

    December 23, 2010 at 7:26 am

    Looks delicious and very fun to make!

    Reply
  27. Dacia says

    December 23, 2010 at 7:27 am

    The kids always want to make gingerbread men – the chocolate will do it for me! :)

    Reply
  28. Bobbi says

    December 23, 2010 at 7:41 am

    delicious!

    Reply
  29. Teresa says

    December 23, 2010 at 7:43 am

    I love that you share these recipes. They really help me see how I can alter things for myself!

    Reply
  30. Lisa says

    December 23, 2010 at 7:45 am

    These look so good!

    Reply
  31. Lisa says

    December 23, 2010 at 7:53 am

    This recipe looks really good.

    Reply
  32. Olivia says

    December 23, 2010 at 7:57 am

    Looks like lots of fun… and I say “Gingerbread Men”… who cares about politicalness… lol… nice word!

    Reply
  33. Cathy says

    December 23, 2010 at 8:00 am

    I may have to try this next year. My 2 year old helped me make sugar cookies this year. Trust me, compared to a decapitated angel, letting one gingerbread person kick the other in the head is nothing! :)

    Reply
  34. Jami says

    December 23, 2010 at 8:04 am

    Too cute to eat! How fun!

    Reply
  35. Katie says

    December 23, 2010 at 8:10 am

    They look so yummy and soft. Are they soft?

    Reply
  36. Jenny says

    December 23, 2010 at 8:11 am

    Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
  37. Blair says

    December 23, 2010 at 8:15 am

    I’ve been waiting for this recipe! :-) now I can make them! Yummmmy!!!

    Reply
  38. Jacque says

    December 23, 2010 at 8:20 am

    Very cute!

    Reply
  39. Maren Lee says

    December 23, 2010 at 8:23 am

    These look great. thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  40. Jean says

    December 23, 2010 at 8:32 am

    My son loves gingerbread cookies. I think I will make him some of these! :o)

    Reply
  41. MandyK says

    December 23, 2010 at 8:32 am

    We will definitely use this recipe next year!!

    Reply
  42. Jamie says

    December 23, 2010 at 8:37 am

    Maybe you could call it a gingerbread ‘community’? Thanks for posting the recipe!

    Reply
  43. Darla says

    December 23, 2010 at 8:47 am

    Your gingerbread people look yummy, Laura! I want to pick one up out of the screen and bite its head off! :)

    Reply
  44. Janeen says

    December 23, 2010 at 8:51 am

    LoL. Thanks for the ideas!

    Reply
  45. darialauren says

    December 23, 2010 at 8:54 am

    they are so cute! i love gingerbread men!

    Reply
  46. Jessica says

    December 23, 2010 at 8:57 am

    I have never made gingerbread men before, I’ll have to make some sometime and your recipe looks really good.

    Reply
  47. Cheryl says

    December 23, 2010 at 8:59 am

    This looks like a fun thing to do in a house full of kids! And if you put chocolate anywhere near my face . . . well, you know what can happen! ;)

    Reply
  48. Heather says

    December 23, 2010 at 9:01 am

    We are enjoying the vanilla muffins this morning. Can’t wait to try the gingerbread man!

    Reply
  49. Barbara says

    December 23, 2010 at 9:13 am

    These look perfect!

    Reply
  50. Michelle says

    December 23, 2010 at 9:17 am

    These look delicious!

    Reply
  51. Christina says

    December 23, 2010 at 9:17 am

    I may become the cookie monster soon!

    Reply
  52. Kori Ireland says

    December 23, 2010 at 9:22 am

    These look and sound Yummy!
    Kori

    Reply
  53. Johnlyn says

    December 23, 2010 at 9:24 am

    I think I’d go with Gingerbread men. Unless you put a skirt on one of them.

    You have a wonderful sense of humor! Thanks for posting this recipe.

    Reply
  54. Jen B. says

    December 23, 2010 at 9:24 am

    Mmm! They look delicious!!

    Reply
  55. Natalie E. says

    December 23, 2010 at 9:28 am

    Thanks for sharing this. We may give it a try today!

    Reply
  56. angela rose says

    December 23, 2010 at 9:29 am

    I agree; go traditional with “Gingerbread Men.” I love all things ginger, thanks!

    Reply
  57. Meredith says

    December 23, 2010 at 9:40 am

    Can’t wait to try this! My kids will be so excited!

    Reply
  58. JOellyn says

    December 23, 2010 at 9:41 am

    Stay with tradition…Gingerbread Men. Lol. Have a very Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  59. Amy Cooper says

    December 23, 2010 at 9:56 am

    tasty looking cookies

    Reply
  60. Beth @ Living Simply says

    December 23, 2010 at 10:17 am

    If only I had some molassis on hand…

    Reply
  61. Cathy says

    December 23, 2010 at 10:23 am

    Thank you for sharing this healthful and yummy-looking recipe. Do these cookies end up soft or crisp? It would be a fun project to make with my kids!

    Reply
  62. Tami says

    December 23, 2010 at 10:24 am

    If I weren’t so busy baking your cinnamon swirl bread, I’d love to give these a try! Maybe an after-Christmas treat. :D And since they are wearing pants, after all, I think Gingerbread men is fully appropriate.

    Reply
  63. Misty says

    December 23, 2010 at 10:36 am

    Interesting with the vinegar in the cookie recipe. I’ve never used that in my gingerbread before, but then again I’m fairly new to baking with all whole wheat flour.

    Reply
  64. Natalie says

    December 23, 2010 at 10:37 am

    I’m not a huge fan of gingerbread… I’ll have to try these and see if you can convince me to like them like the rest of the things on this site! I’ve become addicted to things I never thought I’d try.

    Reply
  65. AllieZirkle says

    December 23, 2010 at 10:41 am

    Or how about Gingerbread Women? :)

    Reply
  66. Rhoda says

    December 23, 2010 at 10:42 am

    Gingerbread Folk works for me.

    Reply
  67. Amanda Y. says

    December 23, 2010 at 10:43 am

    I think it’s wonderful and cute that you took the time to think through men/boys/girls/etc. Honest, I would decorate some (healthy sprinkles or something of the sort) so you have men & women (or boys and girls) :-)

    Reply
  68. Michele Hughes says

    December 23, 2010 at 10:46 am

    I will definitely be making these! I have an angel cookie cutter – mine will be gingerbread angels.

    Reply
  69. Susan says

    December 23, 2010 at 10:56 am

    Those are so cute. I’d take chocolate faces any day. Yum.

    Reply
  70. Jen says

    December 23, 2010 at 11:05 am

    I am ok with “gingerbread men”. I will have to make these soon. Yum!

    Reply
  71. Cassie Jowers says

    December 23, 2010 at 11:07 am

    Look great!

    Reply
  72. kelly says

    December 23, 2010 at 11:29 am

    wow, you dough looks soooo yummy!

    Reply
  73. Erin S says

    December 23, 2010 at 11:34 am

    Definitely Gingerbread Men. I’m tired of having to think of politically correct responses to everything.

    Reply
  74. April says

    December 23, 2010 at 11:47 am

    Again, you are too funny!

    Reply
  75. nicole says

    December 23, 2010 at 11:56 am

    i am drooling!

    Reply
  76. Martha says

    December 23, 2010 at 12:26 pm

    They look yummy. Probably good without the icing too. Have a Great Holiday.

    Reply
  77. Caroline says

    December 23, 2010 at 12:31 pm

    My son wanted me to make gingerbread cookies today. I might try this recipe. I was looking for one with whole wheat flour. Great timing.

    Reply
  78. Jacqueline H. says

    December 23, 2010 at 12:31 pm

    Beautiful Cookies! Merry Christmas

    Reply
  79. melinda mccormick says

    December 23, 2010 at 12:33 pm

    Looking forward to trying this one too! Thanks Laura!

    Reply
  80. Rachel says

    December 23, 2010 at 12:36 pm

    Aaaahhh, the recipe we have all been waiting for! Thanks so much for sharing!

    Reply
  81. Shannon says

    December 23, 2010 at 12:38 pm

    I made gingerbread people today too. The house smells so good!

    Reply
  82. josette says

    December 23, 2010 at 12:46 pm

    I have been thinking about making gingebread men thanks for the recipe. By the way I tried your vanilla muffins and they were a big hit over here…and the smell of them baking…heavenly.

    Reply
  83. Leah says

    December 23, 2010 at 1:01 pm

    I had been wondering how you got darker frosting for the faces!

    I let my girls decorate their gingerbread kids with raisins before we bake them…they’re the only cookies I let them eat because then they’re healthy!

    Reply
  84. Cheri says

    December 23, 2010 at 1:11 pm

    This is my favorite Christmas Brunch ever – thanks Laura!

    Reply
  85. Heather says

    December 23, 2010 at 1:19 pm

    I am putting this recipe away for next year . . . I just made my batch!

    Reply
  86. Laurie Plath says

    December 23, 2010 at 2:02 pm

    Gingerbread men encompasses all female men and all male men, so stay traditional, it works!!

    Reply
  87. Shonda says

    December 23, 2010 at 2:30 pm

    I’ll have to make these sometime!

    Reply
  88. Andrea says

    December 23, 2010 at 2:47 pm

    I love gingerbread and I love chocolate, but I’ve never tried the two together. Sounds like a winner!

    Reply
  89. Lorinda says

    December 23, 2010 at 3:34 pm

    Looks tasty! The cookies look thick. Is the texture more cake like?

    Reply
  90. Barbra says

    December 23, 2010 at 4:00 pm

    Nummers, look forward to making them, but most of all consuming them…

    Reply
  91. Raynea Wallace says

    December 23, 2010 at 4:21 pm

    Yum! Love gingerbread men!

    Reply
  92. Sarah DJ says

    December 23, 2010 at 4:50 pm

    If these taste as good as they look, they’ll be an endangered species in this house, no matter what the gender ;-)

    Reply
  93. Kristina says

    December 23, 2010 at 5:38 pm

    How about a gender-neutral “Gingerbreadness”?! Like gingerbread and goodness all rolled into one!

    Reply
  94. Gracie says

    December 23, 2010 at 6:48 pm

    Perfect!! I’ll be using this recipe this weekend! Thank you!

    Reply
  95. April says

    December 23, 2010 at 7:40 pm

    Those look lovely!

    Reply
  96. jessica says

    December 23, 2010 at 7:56 pm

    Very cute!

    Reply
  97. Pam says

    December 23, 2010 at 8:05 pm

    Mmmmm! I made some with my 3 year old. We put a cream cheese frosting on them.

    Reply
  98. Katie Duffy says

    December 23, 2010 at 8:25 pm

    mhmmmmm…..

    Reply
  99. Mombeam says

    December 23, 2010 at 8:42 pm

    “If you don’t put your cookies 1 inch apart on the pan, you’ll end up with one cookie kicking another cookie in the head. I tell ya, I can’t even get my cookies to behave sometimes. A mother’s work is never done…”

    ROFLMHO!!! Thank you for a great laugh today.

    Reply
  100. Tiffany says

    December 23, 2010 at 9:16 pm

    How cute!

    Reply
  101. Trevor says

    December 23, 2010 at 10:03 pm

    Conventional, white powdered sugar be gone. Welcome sucanat version!

    Reply
  102. Kristen B. says

    December 23, 2010 at 11:50 pm

    I have never had gingerbread men before since my mother never liked them but these look great!

    Reply
  103. Kris Mays says

    December 24, 2010 at 1:18 am

    I might need to buy a gingerbread man cookie cutter, now!

    Reply
  104. Kathy S says

    December 24, 2010 at 6:07 am

    Mmmmmm!

    Reply
  105. Teresa says

    December 24, 2010 at 6:24 am

    My kiddos and I are getting ready to make gingerbread cookies to leave on our gingerbread plate for Santa.

    Reply
  106. Jasmine says

    December 24, 2010 at 6:50 am

    You bring such simple and great recipes. I need to make a file folder just for Heavenly Homemaker recipes. ;-)

    Thanks again.

    Jasmine

    Reply
  107. Sarah Falk says

    December 24, 2010 at 9:29 am

    Totally cute!

    Reply
  108. Deanna says

    December 24, 2010 at 9:40 am

    Mmmmmmmm gingerbread!

    Reply
  109. Abby says

    December 24, 2010 at 12:40 pm

    Cute!!! I need some gingerbread now…

    Reply
  110. Beth says

    December 24, 2010 at 1:00 pm

    These would be a health food when eaten with a glass of milk in my book, lol! Yum.

    Reply
  111. Dawnette Thomas says

    December 24, 2010 at 1:27 pm

    How about boring ol’ “Gingerbread Cookies”? Then we don’t have to worry about leaving anyone out.

    Reply
  112. Sarah says

    December 24, 2010 at 2:06 pm

    My daughter has decided that this year we’ll be making gingerbread girls. Usually we make frosted sugar cookies, but these will be a nice change.

    Reply
  113. Lisa says

    December 24, 2010 at 3:50 pm

    I just ordered succanat from Azure so I can make some of your recipes!!

    Reply
  114. Gigi says

    December 24, 2010 at 10:33 pm

    They surely do look yummy!

    Reply
  115. Andrea says

    December 26, 2010 at 7:47 pm

    We just made these (without the icing) and they were adorable but were more of a cracker than a cookie. I’m not partial to things that are too sweet in general, but these tasted more of a whole wheat cracker than anything else. The flour had such a strong flavor that we couldn’t taste any of the spices, which was disappointing. These were, though, very cute and are nice if you are looking for a rather healthy cracker-type snack.

    Reply
  116. Jennifer says

    November 30, 2011 at 11:52 am

    gjhgjh

    Reply
  117. stacy says

    December 12, 2011 at 12:00 pm

    just made these using a non gluten flour mix…DELICIOUS! Thinking next time to use flax meal instead of eggs for totally allergy free cookies. zOur daughter (3.5) totally enjoyed decorating them and now we have gifts for all her favorite people!

    Reply
  118. stacy says

    December 12, 2011 at 12:01 pm

    also we used coconut oil instead of butter and upped the ginger just a wee bit to make sure flavor came through.

    Reply
  119. katie ore says

    November 30, 2012 at 3:21 pm

    how many does this make? I have a large family and usually have to double or triple but I thought I’d ask.
    Katie

    Reply
    • Laura says

      December 3, 2012 at 10:45 pm

      If I remember right, it makes about 18 big cookies. :)

      Reply
  120. Priscilla says

    December 31, 2012 at 10:47 am

    these would be good to make and then read the book about The Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett

    Reply
  121. Rachele says

    December 21, 2016 at 7:20 am

    Are these gingerbread men soft or crispy? They look soft, they way we like them. :)

    Reply
    • Laura says

      February 5, 2017 at 3:29 pm

      I’m ridiculously behind in answering questions – so sorry! They are soft if you roll them a little thicker and pull them out of the oven when they are bit under-done. But the get crispy if you leave them in the oven longer. So everyone can make them the way they like!

      Reply

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