Making Christmas cookies is time consuming so I only make a few each year. I always make iced cut-out cookies (Steve's favorites) and these fat little gingerbread men because they are fun and tasty. The recipe comes from a December 1993 Yankee's Home Companion, a magazine that I think has morphed into simply Yankee Magazine. I'm not sure how I came to have my subscription it was so long ago. In any event, I have a couple of recipes from that magazine that I've enjoyed over the years and this is one of them:
Gingerbread Gentlemen
1 C. shortening
1/2 tsp. salt
3 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. ginger
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. allspice or ground cloves
1 C. sugar
1 C. molasses, dark
2 beaten eggs
1 tsp. instant coffee moistened in a little hot water (I use espresso powder)
5 C. All purpose flour
garnish: dried black currants (I use large fat ones from Trader Joe's that I prefer to the tiny variety sold at most grocery stores)
Steps:
Pre-heat oven 340 degrees
1. Cream first 6 ingredients;
2. Cream in sugar and molasses;
3. Add in beaten eggs and coffee (or espresso);
4. Add flour 1 cup at a time. After adding 3 cups stir in the last 2 cups by hand.
Bake approx. 18 minutes - cool on wire rack.
Notes: This makes a stiff dough that can be refrigerated for a short time or overnight to improve handling. Mold the dough with your hands to make the gingerbread men - I roll the dough in my hands and then press the body parts into shape. Use black currents to bring them to life and give them character!
After all the fires in California, seeing snow on the mountains is a welcome sight and says to me that Winter has finally arrived! It's not easy to see the snow (unless you "click" on the picture which enlarges it) but it's there and it's beautiful!
Tomorrow Mr Puffy and I go up to Santa Barbara to visit my parents for a few days. We will sit on the couch in front of the fire and drink cups of tea and munch on goodies - delightful! There is also a LYS within walking distance of their home - how cool is that?
8 comments:
So much more character than cookie cutter cookies. You certainly put some time into them, and they look delightful. Enjoy your days away.
Too Cute- My girls would love those!
Bravo for you, for baking cookies! The little skier man is so cute, such a nice decoration. Where did you get it? Yeah, the sight of snow makes me happy too. I like shoveling the snow too. :o) The visit to your parents sounds very nice. Wish you a very nice visit! :o)
Oh, they look great! I really like how they have their own personalities.
I hope you and Mr Puffy enjoy your visit and have some good relaxing time.
Love those ginger people!!!
Have a great time in SB :)
Your cookies look great!
I make cookies every year; it's tradition in our family. The one year I didn't have the time to do it, I was so upset. Now, I try to be organized about it so I'll never skip another year. Basically, I mix all the dough batters up, chill them in the fridge, and then crank them out in one week. It's a bit insane, but fun!
Cookies look delicious!
Enjoy your visit with your folks!
I have "Favorite Holiday Recipes", a Yankee magazine insert booklet. The meat balls are a hit at every party I have brought them to.
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