Gingerbread men

Gingerbread men

Ingredients/Components

• butter or margarine, softened - 1 c
• dark brown sugar, firmly packed
• eggs - 2 lg
• molasses - 2/3 c
• lemon juice - 1/3 c
• all-purpose flour, divided - 6 to
• baking powder - 2 Tbsp
• ground ginger
• ground cinnamon - 2 tsp
• baking soda - 1/2 tsp
• ground cloves - 1/2 tsp
• ground nutmeg - 1/4 tsp
• salt - 1/8 tsp
• raisins - 1 item
• red cinnamon candies - 1 item
• white frosting - 1 item
• Add eggs, molasses, and lemon juice; beat well
• shortening - 1/2 c
• half-and-half - 1/3 c
• vanilla extract - 1 tsp

How to make gingerbread men:

Beat butter at medium speed of an electric mixer; gradually add brown sugar, beating well. Add eggs, molasses, and lemon juice; beat well. Combine 2 cups flour and next 7 ingredients; stir well. Add flour mixture to creamed mixture; mix well. Gradually add enough remaining flour to make a stiff dough, mixing well. Shape dough into a ball. Cover, chill at least 1 hour.

Roll half of dough to 1/4 inch thickness on a large, greased cookie sheet. Cut gingerbread men with an 8 1/2 inch cookie cutter. Remove excess dough, using the tip of a knife. Add excess dough to remaining half of dough; wrap in wax paper, and chill until needed.

Press raisins and cinnamon candies in each gingerbread man for eyes, nose, mouth, and buttons. Bake at 350° for 10 - 14 minutes or until golden. Let cool 1 minute on cookie sheet. Remove to wire racks to cool completely. Repeat procedure with remaining dough. Decorate Gingerbread Men with white frosting. Yield: 11 cookies.White Frosting:1 (16 oz.) pkg. powdered sugar, sifted1/2 c. shortening1/3 c. half-and-half1 tsp. vanilla extract Combine all ingredients in a large bowl; beat at medium speed of an electric mixer until mixture is spreading consistency. Use frosting to outline gingerbread and make cuffs, collars, belts, and shoes. Yield: 2 cups.

Recipe categories: Desserts, Cookie and brownie, Christmas.