Gingerbread People (Christmas Cookies the Kids Can Make)

By Hklbrries

Q: I love making Christmas cookies with my kids, but I have yet to find a gingerbread dough that’s easy for them to roll out. Any suggestions?" –Gwen Vernor, via email

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A: Try this one; it’s a family favorite—we make it at our house every season, and the kids join in. The dough can be prepared a few days in advance and chilled in the fridge. Or it can be frozen for up to a month—as can the cookies you bake.

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Note: For best results, don’t freeze frosted cookies!

Ingredients

• For Cookies:
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 1 cup molasses
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 eggs
• 5 cups flour, plus more for work surface
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 4 tsp ground ginger
• 2 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• For Icing:
• 4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 4 Tbsp meringue powder
• Assorted small candies

Details

Servings 5
Adapted from dashrecipes.com

Preparation

Step 1

In work bowl of an electric mixer, beat brown sugar, molasses, and butter for 1 minute. Beat in eggs one at a time.

Add flour, salt, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Beat until no traces of flour are visible. Cover and refrigerate for half an hour.

Preheat oven to 350 F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

On a floured work surface, roll out a quarter of the dough to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut out small gingerbread boys and girls. Repeat with remaining dough. Bake cookies for 6 to 8 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 3 minutes on pan. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

To make icing, combine confectioners' sugar, meringue powder, and 1/2 cup warm water in a large bowl. Beat with mixer set on medium for 10 minutes. If icing seems stiff, beat in 2 or 3 tsp warm water.

Frost tops of cookies or pipe on designs. Decorate with candies.


Nutritional Information:
Per (1 cookie) serving
160 calories
30 g carbohydrates
2 g protein
3.5 g fat
15 mg cholesterol
95 mg sodium
0 g fiber