Who doesn’t love the look of little gingerbread men (see the Shrek movies for lots of cookie cuteness–and crumbly tragedy)? But often gingerbread men look better than they taste, the cookies as bland and dry as cardboard. But the following recipe will give you not only the iconic cheery shape, but also cookies that are slightly moist, chewy, and full of flavor. The secret to the perfect texture is to freeze the dough overnight, so be sure not to skip this step. Now it’s time to dust off those rolling pins, get out those cookie cutters, and be creative with your icing-decorating. Most of all, get ready to enjoy the satisfying feel and delicious spicy flavor of these holiday treats.

Ingredients:

10 tablespoons unsalted butter. Softened

¾ cup packed brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

½ tsp salt

⅔ cup molasses

1 egg

3 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tablespoon each of ground ginger and cinnamon

½  tablespoon each of allspice and cloves

Instructions:

1. Cream butter, sugar, molasses, salt, and vanilla extract together for 5-7 minutes or until light and fluffy
2. Add egg and mix for another minute
3. Slowly add in dry ingredients 
4. Use hands to form dough in a ball and wrap in plastic wrap (dough will be sticky)
5. Chill dough overnight or up to 3 days
6. Remove cookie dough from refrigerator and let defrost until dough is malleable
7. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 2-3 baking sheets with parchment or silicone baking sheets.
8. Flour workspace and roll out the dough until ¼ inch think.,
9. Cut dough into desired shapes and place 1 inch apart on a baking sheet. BAke for 8-11 min ( more time will give you a crunchier cookie- I tend to stick to 8 min)
10. Let cookies cool before frosting or decorating however you want.
11. Enjoy!

Cecilia Ashenuga ‘24, Food and Wellness Editor

24cashenuga@montroseschool.org