Email to Cat      

Christmas: Gingerbread People

Source of Recipe


From "Mrs. Field's Best Ever Cookie Book"






List of Ingredients



• -- For the Cookies --
  
• 3-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
  
• 1/4 tsp salt
  
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  
• 2 tsp ground ginger
  
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  
• 1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, softened
  
• 3/4 cup (packed) dark brown sugar
  
• 1 large egg
  
• 1/2 cup unsulphured molasses
  
• .
  
• -- For the Icing --
  
• 2/3 cup confectioners' sugar
  
• 1 to 2 tsp milk
  






Instructions



1. Combine flour, soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves in a medium bowl. In a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add egg and molasses and beat until smooth, scraping down sides of bowl. Add the flour mixture and blend on low speed just until combined; do not overmix.
   
   
2. Separate dough into two balls and flatten into discs. Wrap each tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.
   
   
3. Preheat oven to 325° F. On a floured surface, with floured rolling pin, roll dough out to 1/4-inch thickness. With floured gingerbread man cookie cutters, cut dough into cookies. Gather scraps and re-roll dough until all the dough is used.
   
   
4. Place on ungreased cookie sheets 1/2-inch apart. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, being careful not to brown. Transfer to a rack and let cool.
   
   
5. Prepare the icing by whisking sugar and milk together in a small bowl until mixture is smooth but not liquid. Spoon icing into pastry bag fitted with a small piping tip. Decorate as desired.
   
   Makes about 4 dozen cookies.