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Gingerbread Cookies


Gingerbread cookies are always a hit with the younger crowd although I sure don't mind one with my coffee either. I used to bake these cookies when our children were younger and then later for the grandchildren. I thought it was time to bring back a few memories. These cookies are easy and fun to make.  As you place the cut dough on the pan you can move the body parts to give them a whimsical look. And decorate as elaborate or as plain as you want. I am not a 'fancy decorator' as can be seen in these photos but they make me smile anyway. These cookies are 'soft and chewy'. If you want crispy cookies roll the dough thinner, and bake a little longer.
  • 3/4 cup butter, softened
  • 2/3 cup brown sugar
  • 2/3 cup molasses
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 3 teaspoons ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  1. Combine butter, brown sugar, molasses, milk, and vanilla. Mix until smooth.
  2. Whisk together dry ingredients and stir into wet ingredients until well combined and dough forms into a ball.
  3. Wrap up in waxed or parchment paper and refrigerate overnight.
  4. Roll out dough, 1/4" thick on very lightly floured parchment paper, cut into gingerbread shapes. I used a 5" cutter.
  5. Place on parchment lined cookie sheet and bake in a 350ยบ oven for 10-12 minutes. 
  6. Cool completely and decorate with your favorite icing. Allow to dry before packing into cellophane bags for gifts or into containers for freezing. I like to lay the cookies on a cookie sheet to flash freeze, once frozen they can be packed into containers for freezing without messing up the decorating.
  7. Yield: 20 cookies

13 comments:

  1. Seeing gingerread cookies makes me smile and remember when I used to make these for my girls. One Christmas after one of the girls had surgery on her foot, I made some using a foot cookie cutter. She sure loved it! Thanks for the memories. Wishing you and yours all the best in this holiday season.

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    1. Those 'foot cookies' will always be a special memory:)

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  2. We hung these using red ribbon across the doorway from kitchen to dining room. My son had a cold and we were using a vaporizer The moisture in the air...softened the cookies and they dropped... one by one to the floor. Our dog learned to lie in wait for one of these cookies.

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    1. This story makes me smile. Thank you for sharing.

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  3. in our house, gingerbread was never a hit with the younger crowd---too grown up tasting for us. I sure love it now with a cup of coffee or tea!

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  4. Will be making these for my husband.

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  5. Before baking, use a straw to puncture a small hole near the top. Then later when cookies are baked and cooled, it's easy to put a string or ribbon through the hole so you can hang the cookie on the tree (or wherever).

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  6. I love your gingerbread cookies!! Especially the one with the apron :) - so cute!

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  7. Should these have an egg or baking soda?

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    1. Thank you Diana for catching that. Sorry, I have now corrected it..there should be baking soda in the recipe but no eggs.

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  8. I was wondering when the 2 TBSP of milk is used?

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  9. I had the same question about the milk. When do I put that in?

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    1. Cindy and scrub nuts..I just corrected that in the recipe. Sorry about missing that.

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