Gather gingerbread dough ingredients: flour, ground ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, butter, brown sugar, molasses, egg
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C)
Mix the dry ingredients in one bowl
Cream the butter and brown sugar in another bowl
Add molasses and egg to the butter mixture
Combine the wet and dry ingredients to form a dough
Chill the dough in the refrigerator
Roll out the dough on a floured surface
Cut out gingerbread man shapes with a cutter or template
Place the shapes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper
Bake until firm and lightly browned
Let the gingerbread men cool completely
Prepare icing for decorating
Decorate with icing, candies, or other toppings