Fragrant with spices, gingerbread cookies make a house smell like the holidays! And gingerbread men are soooo cute.
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How to make Gingerbread Cookies:
5 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon ginger
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup shortening, melted and cooled
1 cup molasses
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup water
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
Combine flour and other dry ingredients in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix shortening, molasses, brown sugar, water, egg and vanilla. Add flour and dry ingredients. Mix well and divide into thirds on pieces of plastic wrap. Wrap thirds and place in refrigerator for at least three hours.
Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Take cookie dough out of the refrigerator one section at a time. Dust chilled dough with flour and roll out to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes. Place on a greased cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Cool on wire racks then decorate however you choose! Makes 3-4 dozen cookies or gingerbread men.
To hang on a tree or use as a gift tag, insert a toothpick at the top when cookies are just out of the oven to make a hole. Tie a ribbon or wire through the hole after decorating.
See A Homemade Christmas.
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Donna says:
Ohhh, I remember making Gingerbread cookies and my aunt in Texas would make them for all the children at the family reunion…and she would put bread slices in the tupperware, to keep them soft!
On April 22, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Donna says:
P.S. – Princess is soooo cute – I love your stories about her and her cookies are decorated soooo pretty!!
On May 2, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Joodee says:
Hi Suzanne, I’m pretty new to your blog and really enjoy it. Thanks! Quick question-do you make your own white icing for these men or is it store-bought? Can you share the recipe? (I’m a pretty newbie cook, too.)
On November 21, 2009 at 8:25 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
For these, I use that writing icing that comes in the tubes and is so ready to just go on and make the design. It’s really easy. You could make your own, though! I may experiment with that this year!
On November 21, 2009 at 8:29 am
Elizabeth says:
It’s supposed to snow here tomorrow. I think I’ll make these while the snow falls! Thanks Suzanne. I love you blog.
On December 15, 2010 at 11:07 am
Sheila says:
Well I made both ornaments and cookies with both your sugar cookies and the gingerbread cookies , I had to hang them up high on my tree though because my cat was eyeing them (I just hope he doesn’t try climbing the tree to try and get to them LOL , btw my hubby LOVES your sugar cookies) 🙂
On December 17, 2010 at 10:47 pm
KristenA says:
Just got done making these and they are a huge hit! My husband is a gingerbread snob and he said these are fantastic. He said they needed a little more bite (he couldn’t pinpoint what that would be), but thought fresher ingredients would do the trick. Thank you for sharing this recipe and inspiring me throughout the year. Merry Christmas to you and your famIly!
On December 23, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Sheila says:
Can the gingerbread and sugar cookie ornaments be kept in the freezer or do they need to be thrown out? (or in my case fed to my dog and possibly the birds?) I was just wondering :).
On January 1, 2011 at 2:50 pm
Suzanne McMinn says:
Sheila, I don’t know, I never have tried to keep them. I give them to the goats after the tree is down and I enjoy making them every year.
On January 1, 2011 at 7:40 pm
Sheila says:
I enjoyed making them myself , in fact I told hubby that for next christmas I’m gonna do the popcorn garland as well as the cookie ornaments , I loved how they made my tree look :).
On January 1, 2011 at 9:05 pm
carla anne says:
This recipe sounds delicious! I want to make these!! Thank you!!!
On December 1, 2015 at 5:39 pm