Gingerbread Men Cookies
This cookie dough must be refrigerated overnight.
Ingredients
1 cup (2 sticks) salted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup molasses
1/2 cup black coffee
2 and 1/2 teaspoons ginger
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon cinnamon
4 and 3/4 cups self-rising flour, packed
Preparation
In a large bowl, mix the softened butter with the sugar and add the molasses and coffee. Stir until blended. Mix in the spices and add the flour slowly, mixing well after each addition. Once the mixture is blended, cover the bowl and chill in the refrigerator overnight.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Divide the chilled dough into 3 parts and roll one at a time on a lightly floured surface. If you are using cookie cutters, roll the dough to about 1/4 inch. If it’s too thin, the cookies may break when you ice them. Dip the cutter in flour before each cut and get as many as you can. Leftover dough can be re-rolled and cut or use it to make thin crispy cookies with a sugar topping sprinkled on before baking.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes at 375 degrees and leave them on the cookie sheet for a couple of minutes after removing from the oven. Transfer to a wire rack until completely cooled and begin decorating!
Combine 2 cups of confectioners (powdered) sugar with 1/8 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon of flavoring (vanilla, almond, or whatever you like) and a little cream, about 1/4 cup to start. Add more if it’s too thick or extra sugar if too thin. Divide into little bowls and add different food coloring. Using a pastry bag or a zip lock sandwich bag with a corner cut off, decorate as you wish.
Note: This is a great project to do with the kids or grand-kids. Create a memory they will always associate you!