After rolling and cutting this sturdy cookie dough, your kids can bend the gingerbread figures' arms or legs and make a gang of gingerbread people twist and shout.
Ingredients
- 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 cup molasses
COOKIE FROSTING:
- 2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 to 2 tablespoons milk
- Liquid or paste food coloring
DECORATIONS/ACCESSORIES:
- Candies and sprinkles
- Ribbon
Instructions
1. In a mixing bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and ginger. In a separate bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then beat in the molasses.
2. Gradually add the dry ingredients, blending until the flour is thoroughly mixed in. Divide the dough in half, flatten each half into a round, wrap in plastic, and chill for at least 2 hours.
3. Heat the oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a baking sheet. On a floured surface, roll out one half of the dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out gingerbread people with a cookie cutter. Use a spatula to transfer them to the baking sheet and, with the end of a chopstick, poke a hole in the top of each cookie for hanging. Tip: To roll out the dough, your child should push the rolling pin firmly from the center out.
4. To make gingerbread people appear to be dancing, bend their arms and legs off to the sides a bit.
5. Tip: Have your child carefully move the arms and legs of the cookies. If the dough tears, dab it with a drop of water and press it back together.
6. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until brown. Repoke the hole if necessary. Cool the cookies slightly, then transfer to a rack.
7. Once cooled, decorate with frosting and candies. Pipe or spread on frosting shirts and shoes, then sprinkle with colored sugar. Make funny faces with gumdrops, shoestring licorice, and M&M's Minis. Lastly, thread a ribbon through the hole in each gingerbread person and hang on the tree. Makes about 24. (After rolling and cutting this sturdy cookie dough, your kids can bend the gingerbread figures' arms or legs -- and make a gang of gingerbread people twist and shout.)
Food
