Yesterday afternoon, kids @ the WRL were treated to a puppet performance of everyone's favorite story about a cookie! Yup, it was "The Gingerbread Man."
Afterwards, we got in the holiday spirit by decorating our own gingerbread men.
If you dare to make your own fiesty little gingerbread creatures, you might want to try this recipe.
Gingerbread Men
3 ½ cups all purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons ground ginger
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup vegetable shortening
½ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 cup molasses, warmed
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 ½ teaspoons warm water
- Combine the flour, spices, and salt.
- In a large bowl, cream the vegetable shortening and sugar. Beat in the egg. Beat in the molasses.
- Dissolve the baking soda in the warm water and add to the molasses mixture, beating until smooth.
- Gradually blend in the dry ingredients.
- Cover and chill for 24 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Lightly grease two baking sheets.
- On a floured surface, roll out the dough to a thickness of ¼ inch.
- Using cookie cutters, cut out gingerbread men and place 1 ½ inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, until dry looking and firm to touch.
- Transfer to wire racks to cool.
