Gingerbread Cookies

Okay, since I am still waiting for D to come back from work (so he can help carry the last bit of Christmas shopping I have to do - I know, I am so behind), I'm going to try and get this post up quickly.

First, I want to apologize for the bad pictures. It was dark, I was tired, and my camera hasn't been the same since I dropped it at the beach. I am hoping Santa will bring me a new camera for Christmas. :D

I have been searching for a good and easy gingerbread cookie recipe. I like to make a gingerbread house each year, and I usually get the boxed set which are impossible to eat without breaking your teeth. I came across one on www.allrecipes.com. It boasted excellent remarks from other bakers. I tweeked it a little bit, and I can say this one is a keeper. I plan to make my house tonight, so hopefully I'll get pictures of it and post them up in the near future.

The pictures I have here are the cookies I made for family and friends to give out during the holidays. I have gotten wonderful feedbacks. So maybe this recipe will be one of your family favorites too.

Recipe:

Gingerbread Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 tablespoon orange zest (I used zest of 1 whole orange)

2 tablespoons molasses

3 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Sift together all the dry ingredients.

2. Cream butter and sugar together. Add egg, mix well. Mix in orange zest and molasses.

3. Add dry ingredients and mix until well combined.

4. Chill dough for at least 30 minutes.

5. Roll out to about 1/4" - 1/8" thick (flour surface as needed) and cut out shapes using cookie cutters or if you are creative, knife. Place shapes on cookie sheets about 1" apart.

6. Place cookie sheets in freezer for about 15 minutes. This helps the cookies keep their shape.

7. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

8. Bake for 10-12 minutes until cookies are lightly toasted on the edges (less time if you like a softer cookie and longer if you like a harder one).

9. Cool on cookie rack and decorate to your hearts content.

Hope you all enjoy it as much as I do. Happy Holidays!!