Gingerbread Cookie Recipe

This recipe from the Joy of Cooking is the perfect winter snack. While this is great for a batch of animal cookies, especially if you add eyes, the recipe can be doubled for a gingerbread house.

Ingredients

• ½ cup butter
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup molasses
• 2½  cup all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tbsp ground ginger
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground nutmeg
• Decorations!

Recipe

• In a saucepan, melt the butter
• Add the molasses and sugar and stir over low heat until dissolved
• Remove from heat and set aside to cool
• In a large bowl, whisk together 2¼ cup flour and all of the baking soda, salt, ground ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg
• Make a well in the center and pour in the butter mixture, beating until smooth
• Add ¼ cup flour so the dough forms a ball.
• Remove from bowl and knead 3-4 times until smooth and pliable
• Refrigerate for at least an hour or up to several days if preparing in advance
• Roll out dough to ~¼ inch thick
• Cut out shapes
• Bake at 350ºF for 12 to 15 minutes
• Optional - Attach eye and other decorations with a small amount of paste made from powdered sugar and water