Gingerbread Cookies

I made some really cute Gingerbread people at work and thought I'd share the recipe.  We made them at Nana's house this afternoon for a tea party she is having over the weekend.  There are tons of recipes out there for gingerbread cookies, but these have the right amount of spicy kick in the back of your throat. 

Here's how we made them:

Gingerbread Cookies (from Bakerella)
5 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons ginger
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon cloves
1 cup butter, slightly soft
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup molasses

Sift flour, soda, salt and spices together in a medium bowl and set aside.
Using a mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add egg and mix until combined.
Add molasses and mix until combined.
Gradually add in flour mixture and mix until combined and a dough forms.
Divide dough into four sections and shape each into a flattened disc.
Wrap each disc in plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.
When ready to bake preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Roll out each disc between two sheets of parchment paper using a rolling pin.
Flour the sides of the paper that will touch the dough to make it a little easier to release. Continue to pull the parchment paper away from the dough as you roll it out.  Also flip it over and release from the opposite side.  It helps a lot when removing the cookie cut outs after they are chilled.
Cut out shapes and remove excess dough to reuse.
Leave cutouts on parchment paper and transfer to cookie sheet.
Bake for 8 minutes. Cool on cooling rack.

Icing:
1 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoons water

In small bowl, mix powdered sugar and water until thick and pasty.  You may need to add a little extra water...one drop at a time.  Spoon into a plastic food storage baggie and clip a tiny corner from the baggie.  Pipe little faces, hair and dresses on the cooled gingerbread.

YUM!