Gingerbread Cookies

One of the best things about December is baking. All of those treats that you deny yourself throughout the year are all allowed in December. That's a rule right? I love gingerbread cookies. They are probably my favorite. I like the German kind that are thicker and more cake like. The ones you can make the Gingerbread men and women out of. I also like the thin as a dime Moravian ones that melt in your mouth. The ones that you have eaten half of them with out realizing it. My bad. I thought I would share a simple gingerbread recipe with you.

Gingerbread Cookies

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg yolk
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground ginger

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Stir in the molasses and egg yolk. Combine in another bowl the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg. Slowly belnd the dry ingredients into the molasses mixture until smooth. Cover, and chill for at least an hour in the refrigerator.

While that is chilling I get my surface ready to roll the dough on ready. Also any cookie cutters you may have. If you are making gingerbread men I use toothpicks to marks the eyes and nose, buttons etc. After the hour is up.....

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F [or 175 degrees C]. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to about 1/4" thickness. Cut into desired shapes with your cookie cutters. Place the cookies about two inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake the cookies for 8 to 10 minutes or until firm. Remove from oven and cool on wire racks. I use frosting to adhere my decorations after cooled. Have fun decorating.