Off With His Head
I’m a HUGE fan of gingerbread men. It’s about the only kind of cookie I like. My mom makes the most fantastic gingerbread men, she always sends a bunch home with me when she makes them.
When it comes to eating gingerbread men, everyone has their own way of doing it. I like to jump in and eat the head first (that way they can’t feel it when you eat their arms & legs).
My mom sent over the recipe in case anyone is interested.
GINGERBREAD COOKIES
1 1/2 (or 12 ounces) cups dark molasses *I use blackstrap
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup cold water
1/3 cup butter
1 egg
6 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons allspice
4 teaspoons ginger
1 teaspoon cloves
2 teaspoons cinnamonMix molasses, brown sugar, water and butter. Mix in remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours.
Heat oven to 350. Roll dough 1/4 inch thick on floured* board. Cut with floured cookie cutter. Place about 2 inches apart on lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake until no indentation remains when touched, 10 to 12 minutes; cool. *If you like chewy cookies use confectioners sugar instead of flour.
Note: Can roll dough 1/2 inch thick and cut with 2 1/2 inch round cookie cutter. Place about 1 1/2 inches apart on lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake about 15 minutes.
What about you, head, arms or legs first?
I like to eat them fresh off the pan when they haven’t cooled completely. Usuually an arm or leg will come off while snatching it up so I’ll eat that first :)
to n.'s comment
I love them too…and any sort of ginger cookie…both types are just super rich!
to warren's comment
I decapitate gingerbread men. Bunnies too. I am cruel.
to Carol's comment
Thank you for that recipe, gingerbread is one of my favs. How do I solve the question of how to eat them? Well, I admit, I dodge the problem entirely by making shapes like trees, stars, etc… I just can’t eat a gingerbread person!
to Mangochild's comment
Oooh. I already made a batch of gingerbread to be made into a house using my mom’s recipe – but i think i’m going to make a batch of these too and see how they compare. I don’t have blackstrap, but Grandma’s regular molasses will have to do , especially since i don’t actually like really dark molasses. It’ll be fun to have two different doughs mingling in barnyard animal form around our gingerbread hen house.
to Miranda's comment
Make sure you put photos of this lovely barnyard gingerbread on Flickr, I’d love to see it.
to Susy's comment