Gingerbread Men Cookies

Combine butter icing with ginger for a delicious taste duo with these delicious gingerbread men cookies.

Gingerbread men are a great item to serve to young children and to those who are still young at heart.

These cookies are also a favorite served at Christmas time--a classic cookie that is loved the world over.

Gingerbread Men Cookies

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 butter or margarine

Cream together, then add:

• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1-1 1/2 tsp. ginger
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 cup fancy molasses

Dissolve:

• 2 tsp. soda in

1/2 cup water

Stir into batter. Add:

• 4 cups of flour. Add enough flour so that gingerbread cookie dough is stiff enough to roll out.

Roll onto floured counter until 1/4" thick and cut out with gingerbread men cookie cutters.

Cut your cookies on the thick side. This makes for a softer cookie.

Bake in a 300 degree oven for 10 minutes, reduce heat as needed so cookies don't over-brown. Under-bake for a softer cookie.

Let cookies cool in pan before lifting out. This recipe makes about 2 dozen gingerbread men.

Butter Icing

While cookies have been set to cool, make a batch of butter icing:

• butter
• icing sugar
• milk to moisten

Start with 1/2 cup of soft butter and beat with beaters. Add icing sugar to taste and continue beating. Add just enough milk to make a smooth icing.

You can make more icing if needed, depending on how much icing you use on your gingerbread men.

• Some people like to pipe icing around the edges of these cookies, making eyes and buttons; other cooks choose to ice the whole gingerbread man and then use smarties for the eyes.

• Iced gingerbread men cookies can be also adorned with sprinkles to make them more festive. Gingerbread men arms and legs can be dusted with green or red sparkles.

• Smarties can be added for buttons and eyes.

Gingerbread men cookies make great gifts to give out at Christmas time or to take to Christmas parties. These cookies freeze well and can be made ahead of the holidays so that you have them on hand.

Gingerbread men cookies are sure to bring a smile.