It just wouldn’t be Christmas without these little guys marching out of my oven. Friends and family look forward to receiving these cookies from me year after year. This recipe produces a chewy cookie. Decorate with Royal Icing or your favorite frosting.

Gingerbread Men

Makes 24  3 1/2 inch gingerbread men.

You will need:

2/3 cup shortening

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup molasses

1 egg

3 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

Directions:

Using a heavy duty mixer, combine first 6 ingredients.  Add egg and mix.  Add molasses and continue to mix until creamy.

Add together flour, baking powder and baking soda in a separate bowl.  Sift.  Slowly add flour mixture to the wet mixture and mix until well blended.  Remove from mixing bowl and divide dough into 2 discs. Cover in plastic wrap and chill at least 1 hour. If dough is too sticky, put in freezer for about 20 minutes before rolling it out. It is important to keep the dough cold.

Preheat oven to 375 F.  Roll out 1/4 of the dough at a time to 1/8″ thickness or slightly thicker between 2 pieces of plastic wrap or wax paper.   Cut out shapes with a cookie cutter and transfer to a parchment or silpat lined cookie sheet. Bake for 8 minutes.

Leave in pan for 5 minutes then move to a wire rack to cool. Decorate when completely cooled.