Preheat the oven 350 degrees F.

Mix the dry ingredients together in a medium bowl and set aside. Add in the orange peel if using and incorporate into the mix.

In another bowl mix the butter, egg, honey and molasses together.

Mix the wet ingredients into the dry until the dough thickens and forms a ball.

If your dough is dry, add 1-2 tablespoons of water or orange juice into the dough until it comes together to form a ball.

Scoop the dough out on a silicon mat and roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thick.

Use cookie cutters to cut the gingerbread men out and place them on a parchment lined cookie sheet.

Bake the cookies until golden brown, 8-10 minutes.

Don’t let them over bake or the cookies will become too hard.

Let the cookies cool before decorating.

Decorate with your favorite icing.