Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp ground ginger
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
Wet Ingredients:
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1 large egg
1/2 cup molasses
For Icing (optional):
2 cups powdered sugar
2-3 tbsp milk
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
Prepare Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Set aside.
Cream Butter and Sugar: In another large bowl, cream the softened butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg and molasses until well combined.
Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until the dough comes together.
Chill the Dough: Divide the dough into two halves, wrap in plastic, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour (or overnight).
Preheat Oven & Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Roll Out Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out one portion of the dough to about 1/4-inch thickness.
Cut Out Cookies: Use cookie cutters to cut out gingerbread men or other shapes. Place them on the prepared baking sheets.
Bake: Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies are just starting to brown.
Cool Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Decorate (Optional): Mix powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla to make icing. Adjust the consistency as needed. Decorate the cooled cookies with the icing.
Enjoy!: Once the icing has set, your gingerbread cookies are ready to be enjoyed!
Remember, you can adjust the spices to your taste and get creative with the decorations! Happy baking!