by Maxine Troxell

No confection symbolizes the holidays quite like gingerbread in its many forms, from edible houses to candy-studded gingerbread men to spiced loaves of cake-like bread. These cookies make a great gift for friends and family.  

Gingerbread Boy Cookies

Ingredients

   1 cup of light brown sugar, packed

2 eggs

¾ cup of molasses

¼ tsp. salt

1 tbsp. of ginger

2 tsp. of cinnamon

   2 sticks of unsalted butter, softened

2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

5 ½ cups all-purpose flour

½ tsp. baking soda

1 ½ tsp. cloves

1 tsp. nutmeg

Directions

In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, salt, baking soda, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside. 

With a mixer, cream the butter and sugars together until light in color and creamy. 

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well between each one. 

Add molasses and vanilla extract and mix well. 

Gradually add the dry ingredients one cup at a time until all are combined and mixed well.

Divide dough into three equal parts. Roll each one out to ¼” or ¾” on a lightly floured mat and place them into the freezer for 10 minutes. The dough is easier to work with when cold. 

Using your favorite gingerbread boy cookie cutter, cut out and place on greased baking sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 6-8 minutes.

Frost cookies with royal icing. If you don’t feel comfortable decorating cookies, you can just sprinkle the cookies with powdered sugar.  Here is a link to a good royal icing recipe: https://bakemesomesugar.com/wprm_print/23549.