Classic Gingerbread Recipe: Soft & Spiced Cookies

INGREDIENTS

2‑1/4 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 2 teaspoons ground ginger 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 3/4 cup butter, softened 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar 1/2 cup dark molasses 1 egg Icing (recipe) or prepared creamy or gel-type tube frosting (optional) Candies and other decorations (optional)

PREPARATION:

1. Combine flour, cinnamon, ginger, baking powder, salt, cloves and nutmeg in large bowl.
2. Beat butter and brown sugar in large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in molasses and egg. Gradually add flour mixture; beat until well blended. Shape dough into 3 discs. Wrap well in plastic wrap; refrigerate 1 hour or until firm.
3. Preheat oven to 350°F. Working with 1 disc at a time, place on lightly floured surface. Roll out dough with lightly floured rolling pin to 3/16-inch thickness. Cut out gingerbread people with floured 5-inch cookie cutters; place on ungreased cookie sheets. Press dough trimmings together gently; reroll and cut out more cookies.
4. Bake about 12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Let cookies stand on cookie sheets 1 minute; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
5. Prepare Icing and pipe onto cooled cookies, if desired. Decorate with candies, if desired. Let stand at room temperature 20 minutes or until set. Store tightly covered at room temperature or freeze up to 3 months.

This recipe appears in: Christmas NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION: Serving Size: 1 cookie Total Fat 9 g Sodium 191 mg Cholesterol 36 mg Carbohydrate 26 g Fiber <1 g Protein 2 g Calories 193 DIETARY EXCHANGE: Fat 1.5 Starch 2