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My house smells so good!

15 years ago

Nothing beats the smell of gingerbread in the air, IMHO :) I worked on these most of the morning for a cookie swap I'm going to on Saturday. I've discovered that for me, light molasses is the only way to go when making gingerbread. This recipe I found makes a softer cookie which I prefer. A few of their smiles look a little demented, but overall I think they turned out okay!

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Comments (15)

dixiedog_2007
15 years ago
I LOVE them! They look great!
vacuumfreak
15 years ago
They do look quite lovely. So happy. I bet they don't suspect their fate!

I've never made ginger bread before... is the middle a red M&M or something lse?
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dgkritch
15 years ago
I can't help but think of the commercial running on TV right now for the Gingerbread Glade Air Fresheners...

A woman is in her kitchen and a friend walks in and comments that the house smells great, sees the plate of gingerbread cookies. The gingerbread man says "it's not me". The woman bites his head off! Literally.

Yours are cuter! Wish I could smell them! :+)

Deanna
Tracey_OH
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks Dixie! Bobby, they are Brach's cinnamon imperials. I just pushed them into the dough before baking.
shaun
15 years ago
What handsome gingerbread men!

Hey how'd you get your icing so white? hahah! That's something I have trouble with. Mine comes out too milky white instead of snow white.
Tracey_OH
Original Author
15 years ago
I remember that commercial Deanna! They really do smell great :)
Shaun, I made up royal icing for these. I wanted something that would harden up quickly.

1 lb powdered sugar
3 T meringue powder
6-8 T warm water

Whisk all ingredients together
Terri_PacNW
15 years ago
Those are cute..and there are few things that smell better out of the oven...
That commercial is a kick...
mustangs81
15 years ago
Very nice! Thanks for sharing the icing recipe. I'm going to make a ginger bread house with DGS. I hope I have success like you did.

**My house doesn't smell so good! Too many cooking odors. I just opened the doors and windows and turned on the fans to get some fresh air.
wizardnm
15 years ago
Very cute! Nice job they'll look nice for the swap.

Nancy
maddielee
15 years ago
Darling!

Have you seen the gingerbread man cookie cutters with limbs missing? (I don't have a need because I lose an arm or leg on my own.)

ML

Here is a link that might be useful: strange cookie cutters
annie1992
15 years ago
Tracey, I'll have one of those, please. I kind of like the demented smiles, like maybe they'll bite back, LOL.

I love gingerbread, and those are so cute. Gingerbread men always remind me of a poster Ashley bought once that said "The Perfect Man: He's cute, he's sweet and if he gives you any crap you can bite his head off". Yes, it had a picture of a gingerbread man, LOL.

Annie
Tracey_OH
Original Author
15 years ago
ML, Who thinks of things like gingerbread cookie cutters with missing limbs?! I'd rather just snap off a piece and eat it :)

Cathy, can't wait to see your gingerbread house! The boys always did the cheater version with graham crackers at school, but they were always so proud of them!

Annie, definitely the perfect man, especially today!
natesgramma
15 years ago
Tracey, can you share this recipe for these softer cookies?
Tracey_OH
Original Author
15 years ago
Sure! Here it is.

Gingerbread Men

1 c softened butter
1 1/2 c brown sugar
2 eggs
2/3 c molasses (I used light molasses)
1/3 c fresh lemon juice
6 1/2 to 7 c all-purpose flour
2 T baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
2 1/2 t ground ginger
2 t cinnamon
1/2 t ground cloves
1/4 t nutmeg
red cinnamon candies

-Beat butter at med. speed with electric mixer until creamy; gradually add brown sugar, beating well. Add eggs, molasses, and lemon juice; beat well.
-Combine 2 c flour, baking powder, and next 6 ingredients (through nutmeg); stir well. Add to butter mixture, beating at low speed until blended. Gradually add enough remaining flour to make a stiff dough, mixing well. Shape dough into 2 balls. Cover and chill at least 1 hour.
-Roll 1 portion of dough to 1/4" untckness on a large greased cookie sheet. Cut gingerbread men with cookie cutter. Remove excess dough, using the tip of a knife. Add excess dough to remaining half of dough; wrap in wax paper, and chill until needed.
-Press cinnamon candies in each gingerbread man for buttons.
-Bake at 350Â° for 10-14 minutes or until golden. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheet. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

*****NOTE: I rolled out my dough on a WELL FLOURED cutting board and transferred them after cutting to a parchment lined cookie sheet.
natesgramma
15 years ago
Thanks bunches!

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