Gingerbread Guys
Gingerbread Guys
Yield: 1 ½ dozen (5 inch) guys
Prep time: 20 MinCook time: 10 MinTotal time: 30 Min
You know the holidays have officially begun when the guys show up. With their little smily faces and Smartie buttons, they act as the perfect ambassadors to welcome in the season.
Ingredients
Finishing Touches
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Line 2 (11 x 17 inch) rimmed cookie sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a double boiler over medium heat, or a heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water, combine and stir the molasses, both sugars, cinnamon and ginger. When the sugars have melted, add the baking soda and stir. when the mixture bubbles up, remove the post from the heat and set aside.
- Place the butter in a the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Slowly pour the warm molasses mixture over the butter. With the machine running on medium speed, mix until the butter has completely melted and the mixture has cooled slightly.
- Add the eggs one a a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- With the mixer running on low speed, slowly add the flour until it is fully combined.
- Lift the dough from the bowl and place it on a. well-floured spark surface. Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough to about ¼ inch thick
- Use your gingerbread man cookie cutter (or a cutter of your choice) to cut out about eighteen large cookies. Carefully transfer the cookies to the prepared trays and place them about ½ inch apart. You will need to combine the snaps and preroll the dough several times to use it all up, but not to worry as this is a very sturdy dough that doesn't mind being handled.
- Bake for approximately 10 minutes, or until the cookies are still slightly soft to the touch in the center. I prefer a softer gingerbread cookie, but if you like ours crunchy, then bake them a little while longer.
- Transfer the cookies to wire racks and allow them to cool complete before decorating.
- While the cookies cool, prepare the Royal Icing. Transfer the royal icing to the piping bag fitted with the plan tip and let the fun begin.!
Notes
*These cookies will keep in an airtight container forum to 2 weeks.
These guys are not your store-bought cookies!
Crisp yet pillowy, these are a must to kick off the holiday season.
A basic recipe that turns out perfectly every time.
Royal Icing
When you're working with royal icing, it is always a good idea to have a damp paper towel on hand to place over the bowl should you have to step away for a moment, If left exposed to the air, it will begin to set up and create little hard bits that don't look as nice on the finished product.
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a small bowl, sift together the icing sugar and meringue powder. Using a whisk or spoon, add the water 1 tablespoons at a time an stir until gassy and smooth.