Reply to "No-Spread Gingerbread Recipe That Is Still Soft"

My recipe (https://juliausher.com/cutout_cookie_gingerbread/) is relatively non-spreading even if you don't reduce the leavening (as I often do when I really don't want any spread), as long as you roll it relatively thin. I am not sure it will meet your requirement of being "tender" as it tends to be a little crunchy, but if you bake it less long and roll it thicker, it may work for you. People's preferences  are very subjective, so my feeling is it's best to try a bunch of recipes to find one you like. Note, however, that cookies that retain their shape often have relatively more flour and less leavening so they will inherently be less tender than those that spread more - it is a fine balance between achieving softness and no spreading.