Easy Gingerbread Man Cookies

Tips from the Betty Crocker Kitchens

• tip 1
  You can bake cookies and store them tightly covered in the freezer for up to two months.
• tip 2
  Gingerbread freezes well. If you’re anticipating a hectic holiday season, bake a batch now, wrap them up and store in your freezer for up to two months.
• tip 3
  Want to pipe your cookies but don’t have a piping bag? No worries. You can use a resealable plastic bag—just cut the corner of the bag and fill it with the frosting of your choice. For more details, check out our instructions for making a homemade piping bag.
• tip 4
  If your easy gingerbread man cookie dough is sticky, it might be because the butter was partially melted, which is too soft for cookies that call for softened butter. The best way to soften butter is to leave sticks (still in their wrappers but out of the box) on the counter for about 1/2 hour. Or you can microwave unwrapped sticks on very low (20%) about 1 minute, turning the sticks once, about halfway through. If your dough is still sticky to roll out, refrigerate it about 15 minutes or until firm.
• tip 5
  These cookies are an excellent choice to get ahead on your holiday baking! Store cooled cookies in a tightly covered container in the freezer for up to two months.
• tip 6
  Looking for photo-worthy decorated cookies but you don’t own a pastry bag? No problem…simply spoon the frosting into one corner of a quart-size resealable food storage bag. Close the bag and snip off the tiniest piece of the corner by the frosting. (You’d be surprised at how big the hole gets, so start very small and cut more if necessary, for a thicker line). Twist the excess bag that doesn’t have frosting, and pipe it onto your cookies!
• tip 7
  The best part about making cutouts is that the shapes are completely up to you. Tired of the same-old gingerbread men? Try using a star or even a tree cutter, the possibilities are endless.