Not the gumdrop buttons!!

Not the gumdrop buttons!!

Don’t we just love little home baked treats ! Here’s a classic gingerbread man recipe that’s perfect for making festive cookies:

Ingredients

For the Cookies:

  • 3 1/4 cups (410g) all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup (110g) packed dark brown sugar
  • 2/3 cup (160ml) unsulfured molasses
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Royal Icing (Optional for Decorating):

  • 2 cups (240g) powdered sugar
  • 1 large egg white (or 2 tablespoons meringue powder + 2 tablespoons water)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
  • Food coloring (optional)

 

Instructions

Make the Dough:

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, beat the butter and both sugars together until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
  3. Add the molasses, egg, and vanilla, and beat until combined.
  4. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until the dough forms. Divide it in half, flatten each into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 2 hours (or overnight).

 

Roll and Bake:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out shapes with gingerbread man cookie cutters.
  3. Transfer to the baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
  4. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are set but the centers are still slightly soft. Let cool on the sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

 

Decorate (Optional):

  1. To make the royal icing, whisk the powdered sugar, egg white, and extract until smooth. Add food coloring if desired. Transfer to a piping bag and decorate the cooled cookies as desired. Allow icing to set before storing.

 

Tips:

  • Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
  • For softer cookies, roll the dough slightly thicker.
  • Get creative with candy or sprinkles for decorations!

Enjoy your festive gingerbread cookies!

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