Saturday, December 20, 2014

Gingerbread Boy Cookie Recipe

Finished product, hanging from the Christmas tree

Hi friends!  Good to be back! When I had left Blogplanet, it was to take a break while family were here. In the next few days I'll be posting more photos of our time together (quit complaining and indulge me). ;-) For now, I'm giving you my favorite gingerbread boy cookie recipe. Then I'm going to put in a 'Touch of Frost' DVD and take a nap.

Cookie slaves
(daughter and SIL) pressing out some Spritz cookies
Note the backup Walker Shortbread on the counter.

My favorite kitchen appliance,
blood red KitchenAid mixer
(the color in the photo turned out a bit too orange)


Gingerbread boys (and others)
Ready to eat
Also, my mom's vintage cookie cutters
that work so much better than plastic ones.

7 (yes SEVEN) hours later, the cookie harvest


Gingerbread Boys Recipe:

This makes a double batch. We put half the dough into the freezer to use later. (Minnesota grandsons, please remind me when you're here!)

1 c. shortening
1 c. sugar
1 c. dark molasses
1/2 c. water
6 c. flour
1 1/2 t. salt
1 t. soda
1 1/2 t. ginger
1/2 t. nutmeg
1/4 t. allspice

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

In electric mixer bowl, cream shortening and sugar. Stir in molasses and water.
In a separate bowl, mix the flour, salt, soda, and spices. Gradually add them to the mixer bowl while the mixer is running. Do this on a relatively slow speed so you don't burn out the motor, and so that you don't end up with flour flying everywhere.

Roll dough out 1/8" thick (or a tad thicker) on a floured countertop. Cut out cookie shapes with cookie cutters. Use a drinking straw to make the hole in the top if you want to hang them on the tree.

Place raw cookies on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with a non-stick baking spray. You can put them pretty close together.

Place baking sheet of cookies into the oven on medium rack.

Bake 12 minutes at 325 degrees. Take from oven and let cool on baking sheet before removing.

Note:  This makes a hard, crisp cookie (which I prefer). If you want a soft gingerbread cookie, roll them out 1/4" thick and bake them at 375 degrees F. for 8 minutes. Soft gingerbread cookies do not work as ornaments.

Note 2:  If you have a dog, place these cookie ornaments high up on the tree so your dog doesn't get them and choke on the ornament hanger. If you have a cat, all bets are off.


Cookie? Did you say cookie??




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Although I usually forget to do it, there is a chance that this post will be linked to one or more of these great linky parties:  Amaze Me Monday and Inspiration Monday and Mosaic Monday and The Barn Collective and    Treasure Box Tuesday and Vintage Bliss Tuesday and KatheWithAnE and Rubbish Tuesday and Our World Tuesday and Tuesdays at our Home and Tuesday with a Twist and  Knick of Time Tuesday (vintage)  and   Tweak it Tuesday and Vintage Inspiration Wednesday and A Creative Princess and  Ivy and Elephants Wednesday and Adorned From Above  and Artsy Corner Thursday and  All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and Good Fences on Thursdays and  Time Travel Thursday and Freedom Fridays and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Saturday's Critters

33 comments:

Pamela Gordon said...

Oh lovely! What fun to have help come in and bake up a storm. Yummy. Great pics (especially of cat). Enjoy!

TexWisGirl said...

very cute.

Susie said...

What wonderful cookie slaves. LOL. Seeing that cookie press reminds me of one I used to have...I used an almond flavor cookie recipe whenever I made those. Glad you had a great time. xoxo,Susie

NanaDiana said...

What a fun time and day to bake the hours away. I love gingerbread boys.

My grandson has eaten every candy cane and cookie off his tree that he can reach. Actually he stashes the canes for later and eats the cookies. So funny. Recently he has been sharing his finds with the CAT! lol xo Diana

eileeninmd said...

Always nice to have extra help around, the cookies look yummy! Love the cute kitty. Thanks for sharing the recipe.. Have a happy weekend!

Merry Christmas to you and your family~!

eileeninmd said...

PS, Thank you for linking up with my critter party.. Have a happy weekend!

Nancy said...

I wish I had some cookie slaves!

The Betty Crocker cookbook on your counter is one of my favorites. Mine is stained and crinkled, but I love it.

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

I have the same cookie cutters that were my mother's and a crisp gingerbread man is my favourite. We tend to learn the hard way about not hanging the men high enough on the tree don't we? :-)
My Kitchen Aid mixer is one of the white ones from the 80s I think, and I wouldn't be without it. I first saw it on Martha Stewart back then when she called it her K5 and I knew I had to have one.
The new coloured ones are pretty jazzy looking!
Merry Christmas.

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

Mmmm, cookies! I don't bake anymore. I let my girls do that. My favorite is the spritz cookie.

Cheryl said...

Oh, I think that I can smell the intoxicating aroma of those cookies as I read over the list of ingredients. I have a similar recipe, obtained from a friend, and it is sooooo good!

LOVE your red Kitchen Aid mixer.

No complaining here...I look forward to seeing the photos of your family celebrations!

Lynne said...

What fun to have the Family Cookie Team stop by for the seven hour cookie marathon! Happy memory moments!

Unknown said...

Hi Judy
Those cookies looks lovely, nice that you've had some help creating them all.
Wishing you and your family a happy Christmas

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

that is a serious beautiful kitchen fully equiped for baking all those lovely cookies. Have a good Sunday and a wonderful Christmas week.

This N That said...

Wow Judy! Those cookies look wonderful. You outdid yourselves.thanks for sharing your gingerbread cookies recipe. I'll have to try that one of these days. Merry Christmas.

Michelle said...

Judy,

I love your red Kitchen Aid mixer.
Looks like some wonderful cookies.
I remember using those vintage cookie cutters. Yes, they did work much better than those of today. I still have the two Gingerbread (boy & girl) cookie cutters I used as a child.

Theresa said...

I love molasses:) Your gingerbread fella is TOO cute! Enjoy your day dear friend, HUGS!

Sandi said...

so much YUM! Love the tree too. Very nice effect!

Bethany Carson said...

7 hours of cookie making?! That sounds like dedication. The fruit of everyone's labors look delicious though!

podso said...

Oh my the old cookie cutters! My mom had the same, with the little handles to help you lift them out of the dough I guess? Thanks for the memory. She also had one of the first (maybe) kitchen aid mixers. Looks like you had some good family times in the kitchen. I guess at our age we put in a movie to take a nap! LOL.

Magali@TheLittleWhiteHouse said...

I love gingerbread at this time of year!

Julie's Lifestyle said...

It's so much fun baking at this time of year. I love your gingerbread cookies. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Julie at Julie's Lifestyle

A Colorful World said...

Love your red Kitchenaid! I have the cobalt blue one. And love your gingerbread men and your sweet cat. Thanks for sharing the recipe!

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday Judy.

A Bit of the Blarney said...

Such a "warm" post. Merry Christmas!!!!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I know you've had a wonderful week! Your house must smell amazing with the baking! I love my Kitchen Aid mixer too. I have a black one! Can't wait to see more photos! Enjoy your week sweet friend! Holiday hugs, Diane

Judy S. said...

Look at all those yummy cookies! What I loved though is that well-loved cookbook on the counter as I have one just like it! Have a Merry Christmas, Judy!

Anonymous said...

I see the yummy treats got your cat's attention! I love crisp gingerbread men. How sweet that you have your mom's cookie cutters; those are real treasures.

MadSnapper said...

wow thos cookies look amazing on the tree and the harvest shot has me drooling.. really it does... love the CAT MOL MOL... all bets are off. i would not dare hang a cookie on my little tree and it is on the counter, Jake and Baby are tall enough to reach it.. i like them hard or soft...

Terri D said...

Checking in as I try to catch up on some of the blogs I've missed after being away for the weekend! Love your post, the recipe and the photos!!

Donna said...

Welcome back and what yummy treats. Merry Christmas!

Snap said...

I love gingerbread. Thanks for the recipe. I really enjoyed reading your cookie making!

Mary Howell Cromer said...

Looking yummy. I have some vintage cookie cutters too and they do work better. It is very early here, but I wanted to be sure and say Merry Christmas to you. My left arm is still not pain free and it is causing numbness down into left hand and so I will be copying and pasting this message for my blogging friends, but did not want to leave anyone out of this greeting, coming from my heart to your own. We have a blog draft in the works for publishing on Friday and then a hope and a prayer that the New Year will be good to everyone~

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Hope you had a Merry Christmas. Thank you for the recipe, I love gingerbread cookies!

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