GINGERBREAD BOYS

Gingerbread Boys image

These lightly spiced festive gingerbread fellows are great to munch on. And if I punch a hole in the cutout shapes before baking, I can use the sturdy cookies as tree ornaments, too. -Dore' Merrick Grabski, Utica, New York

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 25m

Yield about 2 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 10

Ingredients

2/3 cup shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon each ground cinnamon, ginger and cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Confectioners' sugar icing, red-hot candies and miniature chocolate chips, optional

Steps:

In a bowl, cream shortening and sugar. Add molasses and egg; mix well. Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, salt and nutmeg; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Divide dough in half. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours., On a lightly floured surface, roll out each portion of dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with a 4-in. cookie cutter dipped in flour. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. , Bake at 350° for 9-11 minutes or until edges are firm. Remove to wire racks to cool. Decorate as desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 144 calories, Fat 6g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 9mg cholesterol, Sodium 107mg sodium, Carbohydrate 21g carbohydrate (8g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 2g protein.