Here at It's Hip Hop, Baby! we were searching for some holiday cookies to share with our readers- then one just dawned on us. Gingerbread cookies! A delicious and easy for kids to decorate. Disney Family Fun posted a fantastic recipe that we love! Your kids can use anything to decorate the gingerbread cookies, just make sure they're having lots of FUN! Happy baking!
- Ingredients
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- 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
- 2 tsp. ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp. ground cloves
- 1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup molasses
- Tubes of white decorator's frosting
- Red and green M & M's and Skittles
- Instructions
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In a medium-sized bowl, sift the flour, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and baking soda. Set aside dry ingredients.
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In a large bowl, blend the butter and brown sugar. Add the eggs, one at a time, and then the molasses. Slowly add the flour mixture to the molasses mixture, stirring after each addition with the wooden spoon or mixer (the dough should be stiff).
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Divide the dough in half, flatten into a thick pancake (a fun step for kids set up with a rolling pin) and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 2 hours, or until the dough is firm enough to roll (if it becomes too stiff, soften for 10 minutes at room temperature).
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. On a floured counter, roll out the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out gingerbread men and a spatula to transfer them to a greased cookie sheet, spacing them 1 inch apart. Bake for 10 minutes, or until light brown.
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Once the gingerbread men have cooled, invite your kids to pipe on frosting features and clothing (they can make both boys and girls -- or even a whole gingerbread family). Add red and green candies for buttons. Makes about 25 cookies.
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Photo: http://bakingbites.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/nic_gingerman_hat.jpg
