Cookie dough 

1. Place softened butter and brown sugar in a large bowl and mix with an electric mixer for 2-3 minutes until creamy.
2. Add the egg, vanilla extrac and molasses and mix again with the hand mixer for 1 minute to incorporate.
3. Then add the dry ingredients, flour, spices, salt and baking soda and mix just until combined.
4. Gather the dough into a ball and cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes.
5. Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut out with a gingerbread man cookie cutter.
6. Place your cutouts on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and place in the freezer while the oven is preheating.

Baking

1. Preheat the oven to 347°F / 175°C and bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes, until they are slightly puffed and browned.
2. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let them cool a little, then carefully move them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Decoration 

1. Place the sifted powdered sugar in a medium bowl with the water and beat with an electric whisk for about 5 minutes until the mixture is thick and slightly fluid. (If the mixture seems too runny add more powdered sugar and if it is too thick add a few drops of water)
2. Fill a piping bag with a round 2 tip or cut a very small opening with scissors.
3. Decorate the cookies with icing and immediately decorate with granulated sugar or other decorations.
4. Let the gingerbread men dry for 1 hour before eating them!