Gingerbread Man Sandwich Cookies Recipe

Cookie ingredients:

• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
• 1 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp. allspice
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup molasses

Filling ingredients

• 1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/3 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/8 t. kosher salt
• 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 Tbsp. milk

For cookies

1. Whisk together dry ingredients.
2. Beat butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
3. Add egg and molasses; mix to combine.
4. Add dry ingredients in 3 batches, mix to combine.
5. Divide dough in half and wrap in plastic wrap; flatten into disks; refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to 1 day.
6. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
7. Roll out dough on lightly-floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness.
8. Cut out cookies and place on lined baking sheet.
9. Bake cookies until just crisp and browning on edges, 8-12 minutes, depending on size of the cookie.
10. Let cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes; transfer to cooling racks.

For filling

1. Beat butter, salt and vanilla until light and fluffy.
2. Add powdered sugar in two batches; beat on low speed until incorporated.
3. Add milk and beat until thick but spreadable; add more milk if necessary.

Assembling/decorating

1. Spread buttercream filling on one cookie; top with another.
2. Make Royal Icing and use to decorate tops of each cookie.