Gingerbread Cookie Recipe

Make these cookies into several kinds of shapes and have a party to decorate them.  Kids and adults love this kind of cookie recipe!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter shortening
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• Candies and frostings for decorating if desired

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Beat shortening in a mixing bowl on high speed for 30 seconds.  Add sugar, baking powder, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, and cloves.  Beat until combined, scraping bowl occasionally.  Mix in the molasses, egg, and vinegar until well combined.  Beat in as much flour as you can with the mixer.  Stir in remaining flour.  Divide dough in half.  Cover tightly with plastic wrap, and chill for at least 3 hours.

Grease a cookie sheet with butter shortening.  On a lightly floured surface roll the dough to 1/8 inch thick for 2 and 1/2 round cookies and the dough to 1/4 inch for 6 inch gingerbread people cookies.  Cut dough with your favorite cookie cutters.  Place cookies 1 inch apart on baking sheet.  Bake round cookies for 5 to 6 minutes and gingerbread people cookies for 6 to 8 minutes.  Edges of cookies should be lightly browned.  Cool cookies for 1 minute on cookie sheet then transfer to wire rack and cool completely.