Okay, it’s December 1st, bring on everything Christmas! On Tuesday we picked out our tree (which I stayed up way too late decorating) and last night was Mairead’s preschool Christmas concert. And what a concert it was! Fifteen minutes of the cutest little girls and boys singing about baby Jesus and melting snowmen. Mairead was beaming with joy alongside her little friends. It was wonderful 🙂
Afterwards everyone gathered for a pot luck of goodies. Naturally, we brought dessert. Because Mairead has been asking for these cookies for weeks, yesterday we rolled up our sleeves and whipped up a batch of holiday gingerbread men and women. I actually brought the same treat to her Christmas concert last year only they were in the shape of gingerbread heads. (Check them out here).
Because last year I ran into the problem of the cookies not keeping their shape once baked, is why we ended up making “gingerheads.” I made a some alterations this time without compromising the taste and it made a big difference. They kept their shape perfectly, ready for decorating almost immediately. These holiday gingerbread cookies have a wonderful festive flavor and are very easy; no chilling or thawing required.
I only had a man cookie cutter so to create women I just didn’t press down on the legs and used a butter knife to outline the bottom of a dress for the women. I realize my decorating skills are something to be desired but Mairead loved them and they didn’t last a minute at the concert before all the kids were running around with gingerbread cookies in hand! Mission accomplished.
Now it’s time to get back to my holiday decorating. Enjoy!
P.S. Be honest, you bite the head off first don’t you?
Holiday Gingerbread Cookies
*Makes 24 cookies
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp ground ginger
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup molasses
2 tsp vanilla
Directions
Preheat oven 375 degrees.
Line cookie sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar just until combined
Add egg and mix.
Add molasses and vanilla and combine well.
Adding one cup of flour mixture at a time, combine wet and dry ingredients and mix until well blended between additions.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness.
Cut out with cookie cutters and bake for 6-8 minutes.
Once removed from the oven, transfer cookies to a cooling rack to prevent the bottoms from burning. Cool completely before decorating. Enjoy!
By Three Happy Folk
Adapted From The Kitchen Paper
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