Gingerbread Men are so 2011. This Christmas, gingerbread is coming in Ninja form:
They shall be named NINJABREAD MEN!
Have a seat, friends, we need to talk. Have you been feeling down this holiday season because you are gluten-free? Have you felt that pang in your heart as you have had to pass the plate of delicious treats? Well cry no more because these Gingerbread Cookies are unfathomably delicious! Santa Clause has come early this year and he is handing out probably the best tasting gluten, egg, AND dairy-free gingerbread cookies you will ever sink your teeth into this Christmas season.
The flavor will punch-kick you right in the mouth. Guaranteed. And the best part? Tastes JUST like they were made with flour, eggs, and butter.
NinjaBread Men Cookies Recipe
See Brooke’s original recipe before I took the gluten, egg, and dairy out of it.
Gluten, egg, and dairy-free
Makes a swarm of Ninja cookies
INGREDIENTS:
- 1/2 c vegan butter
- 2 1/2 c gluten-free all purpose flour mix
- 1/2 c sugar
- 1/2 c molasses
- 1 flaxseed meal egg (1 Tb flaxseed meal + 2 Tbs warm water, allow to sit for 5 minutes to thicken)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1 recipe Powdered sugar icing
DIRECITONS:
- In a large bowl, beat margarine with an electric mixer on medium to high speed about 30 seconds or till softened.
- Add about half the flour.
- Add sugar, molasses, egg, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. Beat till thoroughly combined.
- Beat or stir in the remaining flour.
- Divide dough in half. Cover and chill about 3 hours or till easy to handle.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Grease a cookie sheet, then set aside.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll each half of dough in to 1/8 inch thickness.
Using a cookie cutter of your choice, cut dough into shapes. - Place 1″ apart on the prepared cookie sheet.
- Bake for 7 to 10 minutes or till edges are firm. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute. Transfer cookies to a wire rack.
Powdered Sugar Icing
Makes 1/2 c of icing
- 1 c powdered sugar
- 1/4 tsp vanilla
- non-dairy milk
- food coloring (optional)
- In a small mixing bowl, combine powdered sugar and vanilla. Stir in a dash of non-dairy milk and food coloring (optional) until well blended and thick. If too thin, add more sugar. If too thick, add another dash of milk.


















49 comments
Cebrina says:
Dec 29, 2012
Best recipe ever! I did a few subsitutes because I didn’t have.
Cara says:
Jan 1, 2013
These really are good, huh?! So happy that you tried them out!
Alena Rose Solenne says:
Dec 26, 2012
These were amazing!! Thank the stars! I doubled the spices, and used blackstrap molasses. They were chewy (yet crunchy) and amazing… and now they’re gone. Thank you for having an awesome blog. I’m off to make thin mints for my darling husband. Yay!
Richa says:
Dec 19, 2012
Haiiii Ya!! yeah indeed.. you are one cray creative shaker missy!
Somer says:
Dec 18, 2012
Have I told you how much I love you today? You are so freaking awesome. Those cookies are the shiz!
erin says:
Dec 18, 2012
haha! we totally have ninja cookie cutters! they’re the best!!
veghotpot says:
Dec 18, 2012
Cara!! I love you
I’ve just gone gluten free and Ive been printing off so many fun things from your blog so I dont feel deprived over the next few weeks! These look soo good and I love the Ninjas
Pow pow!
Cara says:
Dec 18, 2012
Welcome to the GF wagon!! What made you hop on, health issues?
veghotpot says:
Dec 18, 2012
Yeah I was advised to go wheat and gluten free for a month to begin with as I have always suffered with problem skin and a dietician told me that problems in the digestive system can show in your face and skin so I’m hoping to see an improvement there. Also I have seen other positive changes like a flatter stomach and just more energy in general
being meat, dairy and now gluten free is taking some getting used too but your blog shows it can still be full of fun!
stephanissima says:
Dec 17, 2012
You’re fantastic! I’ve seen those cookie cutters and I’m glad you put them to use!
Cara says:
Dec 18, 2012
Aren’t they seriously the cutest things ever???
Kelly Klepfer says:
Dec 17, 2012
Hello, these are SO fun. And I just saw that you finaled at Veg News. Not surprised, of course. Hope you win!!! Congrats.
Cara says:
Dec 18, 2012
Aw, thank you so much Kelly! I have my fingers crossed. HiiiiiiYa!
Herbivore Triathlete says:
Dec 17, 2012
Oh these are by far the best gingerbread ninja cookies the blogosphere has seen! How fun are they? My son would go nuts over these.
Cara says:
Dec 18, 2012
Sounds like someone will be buying their son some ninja cookie cutters soon…
Brooke (Crackers on the Couch) says:
Dec 17, 2012
These are hysterical, Cara! Sorry I’m getting here so late to the party we had our Santa visit and then I decided to go insane and take two children to Ikea by myself. My head asplode. Perhaps it needs a good gingerbread roundhouse kick to the face.
Cara says:
Dec 18, 2012
Uh, no apologies sister! *I* am the late one, are you kidding me?! ha.
“Healthy Fun Food” Blogger Awards « Canned Time says:
Dec 17, 2012
[...] you HAVE to check out her newly posted “Ninja” Gingerbread Men – hilarious and [...]
amethystjean says:
Dec 17, 2012
Thank you for this recipe. I wanted those cookie cutters for my nephew but they won’t ship to Canada. Boo!
Cara says:
Dec 17, 2012
A BIG Boooooo indeed! We need to figure out a way to sneak them over the border for you
Canned Time says:
Dec 17, 2012
These are just crazy cute!
I’m nominating you for the ‘Healthy Fun Food” Blogger Award!
Here’s the link
But I’ll post about it tomorrow and show off your Ninjas too!
Love this
Canned Time says:
Dec 17, 2012
http://cannedtime.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/healthy-fun-food-blogger-award-fb-001.jpg
Cara says:
Dec 17, 2012
You have been so supportive and loving towards me–thank you so much for this nomination! It is so appreciated… xo
Canned Time says:
Dec 17, 2012
Laura says:
Dec 17, 2012
These are adorable! Do you think I could sub coconut oil for the butter?
Cara says:
Dec 17, 2012
I don’t see why not Laura. Give it a try and tell me how they work out. Now I’m curious to hear the outcome…
This Sydney Life says:
Dec 17, 2012
Brilliant! Hiiiiiii Ya!
Cara says:
Dec 17, 2012
hehehehe. I’m so glad you appreciate that
The Vagabond Baker says:
Dec 17, 2012
They look awesome! I bought my friend a set of these cutters last year, I couldn’t resist them!
Cara says:
Dec 17, 2012
They are the stinkin’ cutest cutters, aren’t they? I heart them so!
Veggie V! @ Veggie V's Vegan Adventure says:
Dec 17, 2012
I feel like I should collect cookie cutters…even though I’ve never in my entire life used a cookie cutter. For anything. Ever. You’re helping to convince me otherwise
Cara says:
Dec 17, 2012
You have never used a cookie cutter? Sounds like you need to break this cycle with a Ninja cutter! I’m kinda with you though on the collection. I buy cutters constantly despite the lack of cookie making in my house…
Laurel says:
Dec 17, 2012
Q: The best way to cut the crusts off your bread for High Tea?
A: Cookie cutters!
Cara says:
Dec 17, 2012
Good thing I got a High Noon Tea Recipe book for one of my stocking stuffers! Now I am all set
Laurel says:
Dec 17, 2012
Silly girl, High Tea is in the afternoon, just ask any of your Brit pals.
Veggie V! @ Veggie V's Vegan Adventure says:
Dec 18, 2012
Nope. Never made cut out cookies. We didn’t do Christmas cookies when I was a kid. IDKY. I guess my mom didn’t like cookies. She made lots of pie. I don’t like pie. Maybe because it replaced cookies. LOL
mmmarzipan says:
Dec 17, 2012
These look amazing! And the recipe sounds great! I’d love to give it a go sometime!
Cara says:
Dec 17, 2012
YOU HAVE TO!!! Sorry, I got excited there. But for reals…these cookies are SO good!
Laurel says:
Dec 17, 2012
Ninjas!!!! So cute. Gingerbread is always on my list Christmas or not. I’ll definitely have to see about working these into the schedule. oh, and BTW do not ever make a shortbread crust and top them with lemon marshmallows. More than your life is worth not to mention major Sugar Buzz! xoxo
Cara says:
Dec 17, 2012
I cannot wait to hear what you think about these, Laurel!, she says as she stuffs shortbread and marshmallows into her mouth…
uncommonlife says:
Dec 17, 2012
Well, I just want to say a HUGE Thank You because I ordered those Ninja cookie cutters as well as gingerbread skeleton cookie cutters and they are supposed to arrive today. But I didn’t have a recipe for GF, vegan gingerbread cookies. I thought I was going to have to use them to make sugar cookies, which I am not fond of at all. So, Thanks again!
Cara says:
Dec 17, 2012
Get out! Both of those cutters were my stocking stuffers too!! haha. The Gingerbread Man pictured is actually from that skeleton cutter set
It is destiny, isn’t?! Happy Baking! xo
Nicole Axworthy (@aDashofVegan) says:
Dec 17, 2012
Where did you find those ninja cookie cutters? I LOVE them.
Cara says:
Dec 17, 2012
They were actually a stocking stuffer. In my house, is it obvious that we cannot wait for Christmas? Truth be told, we have already opened all of our presents. ha. Oh, and ps the cutters are from Target
Suzanne @ RollWithIt says:
Dec 17, 2012
OH. MY. GAWD! These top my Lego men FOR SURE! These are amazing and I can’t wait to make them for Santa. Ka Pow! Take that Christmas baking! I just kicked your aaaaaassssss!!!
Cara says:
Dec 17, 2012
HiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiYa!
And those don’t top the Lego men–they are equal in awesomeness!
Suzanne @ RollWithIt says:
Dec 17, 2012
OK, equally cool. HIIIIIIYA! Namaste (Ninjaman bows to Legoman palms at heart center).
heatherscreativeconcoctions says:
Dec 17, 2012
SO cute!! I want some gingery ninja men! Talk about a kick in your taste buds
Cara says:
Dec 17, 2012
Aren’t these just the most fun cookie cutters? I am in love <3 HiiiiiiiiYa!