Gingerbread cookies!  There’s nothing wrong with dessert as the first meal of the day.  Butter fulfills the dairy requirement, eggs provide protein and sugar supplies a burst of energy.  Wake up and start blending and rolling out that dough because there’s almost nothing wrong with substituting your Wheaties with one, two or even five warm, chewy, spicy gingerbread cookies.  If you have a glass of milk too, that should count for something!

We suggest making this dough the night before and letting it mellow out in your fridge.  All of the flavors really incorporate well, and the super cold dough rolls out easier.  If it starts acting up and sticking to your surface, don’t be scared to whip it into shape with lots of flour on your board and rolling pin.

Gingerbread Men Cookies – Approximately 2-3 dozen

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup light brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup dark molasses
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
5 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/4 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt

Icing
2 egg whites
Pinch cream of tartar
3 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
Various food coloring, optional

1.  In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add egg, molasses, and vinegar.

2.  Sift flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt.  Stir into the creamed butter mixture slowly.  Divide the dough into thirds or fourths, pat with flour and wrap each in waxed paper.  Chill it for at least 3 hours.

3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Roll out the dough to 1/4-inch thick on a floured surface and cut out cookies with a floured gingerbread man cutter.

4.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper, and arrange cookies 2 inches apart, and bake for 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to cooling racks.  Re-roll dough scraps and continue cutting cookies until all dough is gone.

5.  If decorating, pipe the icing* on the cookies using a pastry bag or plastic baggie with one tip cut off.  Allow icing to cool completely.

*Don’t be afraid to buy tubed decorating icing.  It comes in a variety of colors, and it’s so easy to apply.  Less mess!  You can also play around with dried fruits and candies.

Click HERE for the printable recipe.