Gingerbread Men Cookies

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
• 1 tbsp ground ginger
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
• 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup unsulphured molasses
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• royal icing or simple powdered sugar icing, for decorating

Steps

1. Whisk the flour, spices, baking soda and salt in a bowl.
2. In a large bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar until fluffy, 2 minutes. Beat in the egg, molasses and vanilla.
3. Add the dry ingredients and mix on low just until a dough forms. Divide in half, flatten into discs, wrap and chill at least 2 hours.
4. Heat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with silicone mats or parchment.
5. Roll each disc 1/4 inch thick on a floured surface and cut out gingerbread men. Set 1 inch apart on the sheets, re-rolling scraps once.
6. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, until the edges are firm and the centers still look slightly soft. Cool 5 minutes on the sheet, then on a rack. Decorate once completely cool.

TipFor softer cookies bake the shorter time; for crisp ones that hang on a tree, roll them 1/8 inch thick and bake a minute or two longer.