Gingerbread Boys, Girls, and Babies

   I believe firmly that all of us need the perfect gingerbread cookie recipe in our back pocket.  Here's a secret, I have it!  Here's another secret, I am sharing it with you!

    I promise you that this recipe is super simple to pull together and that the dough will not end up a sticky mess on your counter.  It truly is perfect.  Just try it once and I think you are going to have to agree with me.  It isn't very heavy on any one spice, so any little ones you share the cookies with will probably love them to.

    My own little ones that live in my house get so excited when I tell them that it is time to make gingerbread boys, girls, and babies, but it is my little buddy Benjamin who is the reason I make them multiple times during the holidays.  The first year he tried the little baby ones, he was hooked.  From then on I have been making Benjamin his very own bag of gingerbread babies each year.  I also send a bag for his sister, Olivia, so that neither one has to share.  It makes me so happy to give them to him because I know how much he loves them.  This year, Angela, his mom, threatened to buy a little baby cutter for her family to have and I begged her not to.  I like being his supplier and have visions of mailing them to him at Harvard in about fourteen years.

    My friend Sarah was the one who gave me this recipe years ago.  I commented that I was looking for a good recipe to use with my gingerbread boy and girl cutters and that all of the ones I had tried in the past stuck to the counter.  She presented me with a copy of her Ginger Kids recipe from an old Southern Living cookbook and I went to work.  Sarah was exactly right that this was the best recipe.  I have passed it on to many a friend and am happy to share with you!

   If you are a decorator, by all means, decorate away with these cookies.  I am NOT a decorator, so mine are always unadorned.  You could, however, make these look very special with just a little royal icing and in fact, my friend Rachel did just that!

   Enjoy and maybe think about sharing with Santa . . .

Gingerbread Boys, Girls, and Babies (click on title for a printable version)

1/2 C. butter, softened
2 1/2 C. all-purpose flour (White Lily for me)
1/2 C. sugar
1/2 C. molasses
1 egg
1 t. baking soda
1 t. ground ginger
1/2 t. ground cloves
1/2 t. ground cinnamon


In a large bowl, beat the butter briefly just until it is slightly whipped.  Add one cup of flour into the mix.  Next, add sugar, molasses, egg, soda, and spices.  Mix together until very well combined.  Add in  remaining flour and beat just until combined.

Divide dough into two halves and place on sheets of plastic wrap.  Shape into discs and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

When you are ready to bake the cookies, Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

On a well-floured counter or board, roll each disc out to about 1/4" thick or slightly less if you desire a more crispy cookie.  Using floured cutters, cut out various shapes.  Place on baking sheet at least 1" apart.

Bake for 5 - 7 minutes depending on how large the shapes are.  Bake just until the edges are set but DO NOT LET THE COOKIES BROWN.

Cool cookies completely before attempting to decorate.