gingerbread cookies

 

the second day of the chef challenge is complete and so is another recipe! this time, its the crunchy, slightly spiced holiday favorite; the gingerbread cookie.

ive actually never had gingerbread cookies (save for that one time in fifth grade when i was sick and inahled five stale ginger snaps. couldnt taste them so it doesnt count. aah "logic"..) but ive always wanted to, and since this book has a recipe, i took the plunge and became a gingerbread-making ginger!

heres the recipe, now go have fun.

1/2 cup of softened butter

1/2 cup of packed brown sugar

1/2 cup molasses

1 egg

3 cups of flour

1 and 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon

1 teaspoon of ground ginger side note: ginger smells totally funky.. its a very pungent tree root..

1/2 teaspoon of baking soda

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1/4 baking powder

preheat oven to 350 degrees. beat butter and brown sugar until fluffy in a large bowl. beat in molasses and egg. combine remaining ingredients in another large bowl. stir dry ingredients into butter mixture. wrap dough in plastic wrap. dont wrap the bowl, actually take the batter out and saran wrap it. chill one hour. roll out dough on lightly floured surface. take out cookie cutters and go nuts. bake for 10-12 minutes on an ungreased cookie pan.

let the cookies cool for 5-7 minutes and then its icing time! the book gives an icing recipe, however, i went with betty crocker's cream cheese icing. though if youre feeling like a super susie homemaker, heres the recipe.

2 cups of powdered sugar

3 tablespoons of warm water

1 1/2 teaspoons meringue powder

beat sugar, water, and meringue powder in a bowl at high speeh with an electric mixer 7-10 minutes or until stiff. spoon icing into a pastry bag, i used a heavy duty ziploc bag and snipped off the corner. works just as well, and its super handy, and decorate to your heart's desire.

the end result is an unbelievable amount of delicious cookies. literally, the size is ridiculous. three entire plates full. only make this recipe when baking for an army or a house of four college-age guys. brendan's whole house is going to love me now..

two days in, and im already enjoying myself immensely.

good choice on a hobby, amanda.

domestically yours,

--amandamargaret