Gingerbread Cookies

It is the season for delicious baked goods and one of my favorite is gingerbread. We make lots of these at our house this time of the year, so I thought I would share it with you!


1 cup shortening
1 cup molasses

2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup hot water

1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/4 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. salt
5-6 cups flour

Bring to a boil: 1 cup shortening
1 cup molasses

Boil for 1 minute then take off heat. Dissolve 2 tsp. soda in 1/2 cup hot water. Add to molasses mixture (this will bubble to DOUBLE it's size). Add soda mixture to 1 cup sugar, 1 egg, 1 tsp. vanilla, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. ginger, 1/4 tsp. clove, and 1 tsp. salt. To this add 5-6 cups sifted flour. The dough should be soft-firm but not stiff.

Roll to 1/4" thickness for cookies. Cut out and add a raisin or two for buttons if desired. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes on a non-stick sprayed cookie sheet. Let cool and decorate!

Roll to 1/8" thickness for ginger bread houses on a cookie sheet and cute into desired shapes. Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes. Use Royal icing for gingerbread houses.

Hope you enjoy! Merry Christmas - Sarah Halterman