I make these every Christmas. I like my gingerbread cookies on the spicy side, but...
...you can tone these down a bit by reducing the cloves to 1 teaspoon.
BEST GINGERBREAD COOKIES
December, 2009
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup molasses
2 egg yolks
4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
1 generous tablespoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Stir in molasses and egg yolks.
2. Sift the flour and then gently spoon into measuring cup to measure 4 cups. To the flour, add the salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, ginger and nutmeg. Sift these together and then blend into the molasses mixture until smooth. Cover, and chill for at least one hour (see note below).
3. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place cookies 2 inches apart on parchment covered cookie sheets.
4. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until firm. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks. Frost or decorate when cool.
Enjoy!