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Gingerbread Boys And Girls

SUBMITTED BY: Cindy B. PHOTO BY: SUGARPLUMSCOOKIES

"These cookies are formed by cookie cutters. By using a toothpick to make a hole in the top of the cookie, you can hang them on the tree. You can also make paint out of egg yolks, and food coloring to make them more colorful--use as much food coloring as needed to create desired hue. My girls and I would spend hours making these cookies each Christmas so we could hang them on the tree."
Original recipe yield 2 1/2 dozen

SERVINGS

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Servings
 

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)

  • 1/3 cup shortening
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups dark molasses
  • 2/3 cup cold water
  • 7 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon crushed cloves (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 10 drops food coloring
  • 1/2 teaspoon water
  • 3/4 cup raisins

DIRECTIONS

  1. Mix shortening, brown sugar, and molasses thoroughly. Stir in 2/3 cup water. Blend flour, soda, salt, and spices; stir into molasses mixture. Chill for about 1 hour.
  2. Roll the dough about 1/4 inch thick. Cut with boy and girl cookie cutters.
  3. Make egg yolk paint by blending egg yolks and 1/2 teaspoon water. Divide the yolk among a few small bowls, and add food coloring to each cup for desired color. Paint the clothes and decorations on the cookies as desired. Carefully transfer to a lightly greased baking sheet. Using a toothpick, make a hole in the top of each cookie. Press raisins into dough for eyes, nose, mouth. Use bits of candied cherries for coat buttons, and strips of citron for ties.
  4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 10 to 12 minutes. Cool slightly, then carefully remove from baking sheet.
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REVIEWS

The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Dec. 7, 2003 by LAURENERIKA
I made this recipe (but used 2 teaspoons of ginger instead of 1) and made gingerbread boys and... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 4 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Dec. 23, 2003 by 1922
I, like one of the other people, love ginger and increased it from 1 to 2 tsp. Absolutely the... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 3 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Dec. 10, 2003 by TARAMACD
The texture of the cookies was perfect -- I hate crunchy gingerbread cookies, and these were... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Dec. 11, 2003 by SHELZ1
I personally do not like gingerbread cookies however these were such a hit at the christmas... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 4 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Oct. 26, 2003 by SCRAPPERDEE
This the only gingerbread recipe that's worked for me...it was so easy...rolled out like a... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Jul. 15, 2003 by GUELPH CLOG GIRL
These cookies were easy to make and the dough was wonderful to work with. I used a small... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 3 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Feb. 13, 2003 by FAIRUZAH
I found the dough very very crumbly when I tried to roll it, but kneading it a little first... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 3 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Feb. 11, 2005 by SILLYSARAHC123
Having misplaced my regular recipe, I decided to try these because of their high ratings. I... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Dec. 25, 2004 by FOODIE1
Tastes great, stays just soft enough for days. I found that kneading the dough before rolling... MORE
The reviewer gave this recipe 4 stars. This recipe averages a 0 star rating.
Reviewed on Jan. 13, 2003 by PARROTT_HEAD
Great recipe! Tastes fine. The more you chill the dough the easier it is to work and cut. I... MORE