Friday, December 03, 2010

Gingerbread Cutouts - with Hair!


Another gem from the Cookies for Christmas. I've never before seen hair, made with a garlic press, for Gingerbread cookies, though I've done this with Playdoh. Fabulous.

5 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. ground ginger
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup molasses
2 tablespoons vinegar Creamy Decorative Icing (er, I'm not posting that one. Get gel or frosting decorator tubes. Much easier and tastier.)
Decorative candies (Don't forget to include some to eat.)

Stir together flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt. In a large mixer bowl beat shortening for 30 seconds. Add sugar and beat till fluffy.  Add egg, molasses, and vinegar and beat well.  Beat in flour mixture, stirring in last part with a spoon till well mixed.  Divide dough into thirds.  Cover and chill about 3 hours or till easy to handle.

Roll dough 1/8 inch thick.  Cut with cookie cutters.  Place on a greased cookie sheet. Add additional dough for hair, if desired.  Bake in a 375F oven for 5-6 minutes or till done.  Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute then remove and cool thoroughly. Decorate with icing and candies. Makes about 66 (6-inch) or 96 (3-inch) cookies.

I enjoyed the show last night with a small but fun crowd and am getting ready to do the same Preserving Holiday Recipes scrap-cookbook workshop tomorrow at the Deerfield Public Library.

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