For a hotter effect, try adding more ginger to the recipe you usually use.

This is the recipe I like to use. It has a nicely balanced flavor, but you can add more ginger if you like. Bake only about 8 minutes for softer cookies.

GINGERBREAD MEN (SOFT) WITH ROYAL ICING
Makes about 1 1/2 to 2 dozen cookies

A good, soft gingerbread men cookie recipe.

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg
2 1/2 cups sifted flour
2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1/4 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a cookie sheet.

Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl until fluffy. Add molasses and egg. Beat until smooth.

In a medium bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Add to creamed mixture and stir until a soft dough forms. On a lightly floured surface, use a floured rolling pin and roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Use a floured cookie cutter to cut out the men. Transfer to a greased cookie sheet.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are firm. Transfer to a wire rack with waxed paper underneath to cool completely.

Ice with royal icing, or decorate before baking with cinnamon candies, nonpareils, etc., or after baking with decorating icing.

FOR THE ICING:
Royal icing follows, but this icing tastes AWESOME on the gingerbread. Dries to a smooth, shiny finish that can be stacked:

ICING FOR GINGERBREAD COOKIES

1 cup powdered sugar
2 tsp milk
2 tsp light corn syrup
1/4 tsp almond extract
food coloring, if desired

Beat all ingredients together until smooth. Add more corn syrup to thin, if necessary. Paint on baked cookies.

ROYAL ICING

2 2/3 cups sifted powdered sugar
4 Tbsp. warm water
2 Tbsp. meringue powder
1/2 tsp. lemon extract

Beat sugar, water, powder and lemon extract in a medium bowl with electric mixer 7 to 10 minutes or until stiff. Spoon icing into a pastry bag fitted with a medium round tip. Pipe icing on cookies, outlining features of gingerbread men and decorating tops. Allow icing to harden. Store in airtight container.