MOLASSES SPICE CUTOUTS

Molasses Spice Cutouts image

Meet the Cook: It hardly ever fails - when I send these cookies to school with out youngsters (15 and 12), I'm almost always asked for the recipe by their teachers! -Doris Heinen, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 45m

Yield about 7-8 dozen (2-1/2-in cookies).

Number Of Ingredients 18

Ingredients

1 cup butter, softened
1-1/2 cups sugar
1 cup light molasses
1/2 cup cold coffee
6 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
ICING (optional):
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
3/4 cup cold water
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Colored sugar
Decorator icing, optional

Steps:

In a bowl, cream butter and sugar; beat in molasses and coffee. Stir together flour, baking soda, salt and spices; add to molasses mixture and mix well. Chill dough 1-2 hours or until easy to handle. If needed, add a little additional flour before rolling. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with holiday cutters dipped in flour. Place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes. Cool on wire racks. , For icing if desired combine gelatin and water in a small saucepan. Let stand for 5 minutes to soften. Add sugar. Heat and stir over very low heat until the gelatin and sugar dissolve. Transfer to a bowl. Add confectioners' sugar; beat until foamy. Add baking powder and vanilla; beat until very thick, about 10 minutes. , Frost cookies by inverting them and quickly swirling the tops in the icing; decorate with colored sugar. For traditional gingerbread men, use decorator icing to add features as desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 152 calories, Fat 5g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 12mg cholesterol, Sodium 164mg sodium, Carbohydrate 26g carbohydrate (12g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 2g protein.