Gingerbread Men Cookies

Ingredients for Gingerbread Cookies

What you need to make gingerbread men

• 3 1/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour.
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter (room temperature, softened)
• 1/2 cup dark-brown sugar, packed
• 1 Tbsp ground ginger
• 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon finely ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup unsulfured molasses or golden syrup, or 1/4 cup molasses or 1/4 cup honey
• Optional raisins, chocolate chips, candy pieces, frosting for decorating

Directions for Making Gingerbread Men

How to turn those ingredients into attractive gingerbread people

1. In prepation for baking your cookies, preheat your over to 350° C (175° F or gas mark 4).
2. Sift the flour, baking soda and spices in a large bowl.
3. In another bowl you need to mix the rest of the ingredients. Start with the butter and cream it with an electic mixer until soft then add the sugar followed by the eggs, molasses and honey. Mix thoroughly and then gradually stir in the flour mix you set aside, Divide dough into three equal parts and chill in the refridgerator.
4. Remove the gingerbread dough from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature while you grease some cookie sheets.
5. Place dough on wax paper and roll it out until it is 1/8 inch thick. A fondant rolling pin is the easiest way to get a consistent thickness. If the dough seems unusually sticky, work in a little more flour and refrigerate for 5-10 more minutes. Use cookie cutters to cut into gingerbread men cookie shapes.
6. Transfer your gingerbread men to greased baking sheets and place raisins, chocolate chips or candy pieces as desired to make buttons and eyes. Bake for 8-10 minutes just until your gingerbread men are crisp. Let them cool for a few minutes before transfering them to metal racks.
7. Add frosting. Royal icing works best.