Gingerbread Men

I kicked off my Christmas baking by making this perennial favourite. This delicious cookie fills the house with spicy perfume while baking in the oven. This recipe is much simpler than many other recipes out there because it does not require any chilling of the dough prior to baking. It is wonderfully crisp, not too sweet and delightfully spicy.

Gingerbread People
2/3 cup molasses
2/3 cup dark brown sugar
1 Tb ground ginger
1 1/2 tb ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1/2 tsp ground cloves
2 tsp baking soda
1/4 lb unsalted butter
1 large egg - lightly beaten
1/2 tsp salt
3 3/4 -4 cups unbleached all purpose flour


Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place baking rack on the upper levels of the oven. Prepare cookies sheets with parchment paper ( I used Silpat - non stick silicone mat - nothing sticks to it).

Combine molasses, brown sugar and spices in a large, heavy bottomed pot and bring to a boil. Use medium heat and stir occasionally.

Remove from heat and add baking soda ( don't be alarmed when mixture foams vigorously - it is supposed to do that). Add butter and stir in till melted. Pour in beaten egg, salt and mix till well combined. Add in 3 3/4 cups of flour and mix well. This was a cinch to make in my Kitchen Aid mixer.

Knead in extra 1/4 cup of flour if mixture is sticky.
Roll out dough and cut into desired shapes and place on prepared cookie sheets an inch apart.


Bake cookies 10 - 12 minutes and turn cookie sheets halfway through baking. Cookies are also done when the edges starts to brown. Re roll scraps once.


Decorate with royal icing.


Royal Icing

This is an all purpose icing recipe and it hardens quickly. It will be especially easy if you use a mixer (the whole thing will be ready in three minutes). The trick here is to whip the egg whites.

3 1/4 cup sifted confectioners sugar
2 large egg whites
1 tsp lemon juice

Whip all ingredients in a mixer for three minutes till stiff and glossy. Use immediately.