Christmas Cookie Week - Day 4

This recipe is a classic, classic one and in making it, I realized that I didn't own a gingerbread man cookie cutter. How with all the baking I do, I don't own a gingerbread cookie cutter, I don't know but thankfully Michaels sells them for 99 cents. I don't usually frost my gingerbread men, I just put the cinnamon dots or buttons on them, three in a row and then them done! I love the smell when making gingerbread cookie dough, the spices, the molasses, makes it all so yummy and very holiday-smelling in my nose. Or that I can light a candle, and call it a day but there are no cookies made. I prefer to make cookies :-)

First, gather together your ingredients: 3 cups all-purpose flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 3/4 teaspoon baking soda, 1 tablespoon ground ginger, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves, 1 stick (1/2) butter, softened, 1/2 cup white sugar, 1 egg, 2/3 cup unsulfured molasses.

In your mixing bowl, cream the butter first.

Then add in the sugar until light and fluffy.

Add in the egg, (room temperature is best) and the molasses.



Now you add in the dry ingredients, the flour, the baking soda and all the wonderful spices.



Mix all the ingredients until they are completely incorporated. Divide the dough into half and wrap each half in plastic wrap and stick in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.

When you are ready to finish making your gingerbread men, turn your oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly flour your surface where you will roll out the dough and cut out the gingerbread men. If you need to flour the cookie cutter, leave a little pile of flour so the cookie cutter doesn't stick to the dough. Cut the gingerbread men, place then on a parchment-lined or non-stick baking sheet.



Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes until the edges are firm.
Let the cookies sit on the baking sheet for 1 minute before you transfer them to a wire rack to cool. 
If you are using cinnamon buttons like me, put them on the gingerbread men before you bake them.



Then serve, eat and enjoy!

16 comments:

Helene said...

gingerbread cookies are some of my all time faves!! LOVE this!!

Cami said...

Ya know, I've never made gingerbread cookies...they don't look too difficult!! ox

k8te said...

these look great! i haven't made gingerbread cookies in forever! i just might have to now!

CALLIE said...

cutie patootie!! You will be proud. I made Snickerdoodles from scratch last night. Question: How come when I make cookies from scratch, they have the texture of a muffin more so than a cookie?? This is the second time. Followed the recipes exactly.

Lauren said...

so cute! i'm going to have to make these with Elyse next Christmas!

Jessica said...

Probably my favorite cookie you've made this week! These look so cute! Nothing says holidays like Gingerbread men!

Unknown said...

I've actually never made gingerbread men- but this looks like so much fun!

Alycia Grayce (Crowley Party) said...

those are so cute, love their little buttons!

Sarah Alway said...

I LOVE gingerbread cookies! And I really like how yours are so simple with just the two red buttons... really cute!

Rachel Ashely said...

These turned out darling! I love gingerbread cookies!

XO,
Rachel Ashley
http://fashionablyliving.com

Dear Boys Love Mom said...

Oh my goodness, meg! These are so stinkin cute. I really need to get myself a kitchen aid! the handheld blender is not cutting it for my mass baking :)

Allison said...

So cute Meg. I've actually never made gingerbread!!

Unknown said...

those look great! I wish that I had a machine to cream butter for me. Right now I'm a hands only gal and it kills me!

Stephanie said...

They came out absolutely adorable! Love them!!! Love gingerbread men...cutest! And they look yummy too!

Jennifer said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jennifer said...

Wow! These look amazing! I made some the other day and yours put my gingerbread men to shame. Great job on them! :)

* Jennifer
www.kermey-and-piggy.blogspot.com *