Gingerbread Man Cookies

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These cookies are just the right texture, nice and soft on the inside and the blend of spices and molasses makes them extra delicious. The taste of ginger is very subtle, and not over powering, as ginger sometimes can be. They bake up really quickly, about 10 minutes in the oven. The dough does have to be chilled, the longer the better, it will keep it from being sticky when you roll it out. I had a great time making these, with my kids, they were very hand´s on, rolling out and cutting the cookies, the dough held up really well ! It was fun to watch them decorate them, all in their own style. There were lots of laughs, you can only imagine some of the nonsense they came up with ! I hope you all had a beautiful Christmas Day !








1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/3 cup molasses
1 egg
2 tablespoons water
2-2/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon each ground cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice


1. In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in molasses, egg and water. Combine flour, ginger, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice; add to creamed mixture and mix well. Divide dough in half. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes or until easy to handle.
2. Preheat oven to 180//350°. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each portion of dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 4-in. cookie cutter. Place 2 in. apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Reroll scraps.
3. Bake 8-10 minutes or until edges are firm. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. Decorate as desired.


Icing


2 large egg whites
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted

Beat the egg whites with the lemon juice until combined, and then gradually add the powdered sugar.

 You want it to be thick enough so that when you put it on your cookies  it won't run off the edge, but stay in place. If it isn't thick enough, you can always add more powdered sugar. Transfer icing to pastry bag or heavy duty storage bag and pipe as desired. If using storage bag, clip corner





Comments

  1. AnonymousDecember 29, 2014 at 12:12 PM

    Boas Festas Diana!
    Vejo que tanto aí como aí se tem feito muitas atividades com os miúdos. Estas são as doces lembranças que lhes ficam na memória. Por aqui também rolou massa e fizemos bolachinhas de gengibre, mas esta tua receita parece-me perfeita. A decoração está magnífica. Dá os parabéns aos teus ajudantes!
    Espero que o próximo ano vos traga muita saúde e felicidade!
    Beijinhos
    Patrícia

    ReplyDelete

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