Sift together flour, baking soda, and baking powder in a large bowl.

Set dry ingredients aside.

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy using an electric mixer.

Mix in ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, ground black pepper, and salt.

Add eggs and molasses and combine thoroughly.

Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients on low speed until just combined.

Divide the dough into thirds.

Wrap each portion of dough in plastic wrap.

Chill the wrapped dough in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Line baking sheets with Silpats or parchment paper.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to 1/8-inch thickness.

Cut out gingerbread people shapes using cookie cutters.

Transfer the cut-out cookies to the prepared baking sheets.

Cut out desired decorations from leftover dough and place on the cookies.

Press currants into the dough to create eyes and buttons.

To create hair, roll a small piece of dough into a ball and pass it through a clean garlic press.

Attach the dough hair to the heads of the gingerbread people.

Bake the cookies until crisp, but not darkened, for about 20 minutes.

Let the baked cookies cool on wire racks.

Decorate the cooled cookies with royal icing.