Friday, December 19, 2008

Gingerbread Men Cookies and a Giveaway!



*Giveaway is now closed*

My little one had a paper come home from school and we were to mark which cookies we could bring in. There were latkes from Israel, Mexican Wedding Cookies from Mexico, Windmill Cookies from Holland, Snickerdoodles from Germany and Gingerbread Cookies from USA. It's been a few years since I've made Gingerbread men cookies, so I choose to make those, rather than buy them, of course!

These are also part of Susan's Christmas cookie blog event. Check out part 1 and part 2 so far!



The recipe I used came from Baking Bites. I really liked the mild flavor of them and I thought they'd be perfect for little ones. I baked mine at 350' for 10 minutes.

Gingerbread men
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp (freshly) ground nutmeg
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1/4 cup water
1 tsp vanilla extract

In a medium bowl, sift together flour, salt, baking soda, nutmeg, ginger, cloves and cinnamon.In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in molasses, water and vanilla, then gradually add in flour mixture until a smooth dough forms. Divide dough into two or three pieces (dough will be quite soft), cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, until firm.

Preheat oven to 375F.
For softer cookies:
On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to just under 1/4 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters of your choice (2-3″ gingerbread men are ideal!) to cut dough. Place cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 9-12 minutes, depending on size of cookie cutter. Cookies should be slightly firm to the touch at the edges. Let cookies cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

For crispier cookies:
On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to just under 1/8 inch thickness. Use cookie cutters of your choice (2-3″ gingerbread men are ideal!) to cut dough. Place cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 9-12 minutes, depending on size of cookie cutter. Cookies should be slightly firm to the touch at the edges and will be lightly browned. Let cookies cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
When cool, decorate with icing.

Makes about 30-40 gingerbread men, depending on size of cookie cutters used and whether you make them thick or thin.





drying out of reach


This Royal icing has meringue powder in it instead of egg whites. It makes it safe for little ones to eat.

3 tablespoons Meringue Powder
4 cups (about 1 lb.) confectioners' sugar
6 tablespoons warm water

Beat all ingredients until icing forms peaks (7-10 minutes at low speed with a heavy-duty mixer, 10-12 minutes at high speed with a hand-held mixer).

NOTE: Keep all utensils completely grease-free for proper icing consistency.
~ for piping my cookies, I had to add probably 8-10 TBL of water to get the consistency I wanted.


I also made a batch for us, using my mom's recipe, which is a little stronger in flavor, I think.


Mom's Gingerbread men
1 C shortening
1 Cup sugar
1 egg
1 Cup molasses
2 TBL white vinegar
5 Cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2-3 tsp ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cloves

Cream shortening with sugar. Stir in egg, molasses and vinegar beat well. Sift together dry ingredients and gradually stir into molasses mixture. Chill at least 3 hours.
On lightly floured surface, roll dough to either 1/8" or 1/4" thickness. Cut out and place 1 inch apart on lined baking sheet. Bake 350' for 10 minutes. Transfer to cooling racks to cool. Decorate with icing and red hots.




Now, who wants to do a Givewaway for some neat prizes?



Pillsbury sent me a care package full of goodies and I am offering to let one of my readers win a neat little set of 10 Mini Holiday Pie Cutters from Crate & Barrel and a CD ROM with Pillsbury recipes and such on it.

So, all you have to do is comment below with your name/email, telling me what you want from Santa!

Earn extra entries by:

-Blogging about this giveaway, leave your link
-Following me on Twitter
-Subscribing to my RSS Feed via email or reader (enter my blog's URL)
-Following me on my blog's side bar widget
-Snag my Blog Button for your site (found here), leave your link

Leave an additional comment for each extra entry.

Deadline: 7pm pst, Sunday, December 21, 2008

The fine print:
-Open to USA readers only please
-I will choose a random winner using Random.org and blog who it is
-I'll also email you and comment to you on your blog
-You will have 3 days to respond or I'll choose another winner
-I verify your email/click-able name, blog posts and button placement on blogs
-If you do not comment with a way I can contact you, your comment will be deleted and you'll have to re-comment with such info if you'd like a chance to win
Thank you!
(I can not guarantee this to arrive before Christmas.)

Happy Holidays!

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42 Lovely Comments:

nicole said...

I want some new knives. I'm going to have to try those gingerbread men.

Chocolate Shavings said...

I want a kitchen aid mixer, in red! Those gingerbread men look lovely - and I'm sure they were delicious!

Ashley said...

Oh, they look absolutely Fantastic! I haven't had a gingerbread cookie in a really long time.. I just might have to add these to my baking list this weekend :)

The Food Librarian said...

These are soooo cute! I love all of them. It would be hard to eat them...

Digital Misfit said...

I asked Santa for an embroidery machine or a Dremel.
Those gingerbread men are the CUTEST! I will have to try that first milder recipe and see how it goes over in my home.

heidig@gmail.com

BeLoVed AiMeE said...

those cookies look great! The icing is nice and smooth.

What I really really want is a digital slr camera but I think Santa is a little strapped for money so I'm hoping to get it for my birthday. :)

BeLoVed AiMeE said...

I've blogged your giveaway :)

http://belovedaimees.blogspot.com/2008/12/gingerbread-men.html

Chris said...

Those gingerbread cookies look delicious--I could never decorate like that. I want some nice bakeware from Santa! My e-mail address is chrisg0619 AT cox DOT net.

Jodi said...

I'd love to get a new printer for printing pictures. Mine is broke! Great giveaway and the cookies look great!

Kathleen W. said...

I really want a wooden wide tooth comb...how specific is that, and weird, huh? I'm just tired of trying to brush my hair when it's wet.

Anonymous said...

your cookies are so cute! i would like a roomba for christmas and maybe a new camera. :)

Anonymous said...

Your cookies are so pretty!!!! Even if they are gingerbread MEN. I want Santa to help me decide which new mixer to buy...Kitchen Aid 6 qt. or Vinking 7 qt.

Anonymous said...

All I want from Santa is some time free of exams (I'm still in school), although now that it's Christmas break I may have time to make some of these gingerbread men!

tbdeyle@hotmail.com

Cristine said...

Cute gingerbread men!!! I'm making some today with my daughter. :)

Lil Boo & Co. said...

I totally need a new computer from Santa {or one of hs elves...ahem, hubby}...this would be an great prize to win...thanks for the opportunity!

ncpnkr@aol.com

Lil Boo & Co. said...

Tweet Tweet! I twittered!

Twitter username: amommysmusings

ncpnkr@aol.com

shweetpotato said...

the are just THEE cutest gingers Ive ever seen hehe , I would love santa to bring me a kitchenaid, dark burgundy please :D Carm

Susan from Food Blogga said...

What a fun school project! I just love their buttons. :) I hope Santa brings me a big, soft pillow for the long nap I'll be taking on xmas day!

Me said...

I have never seen more professional looking cookies than those gingerbread cookies of yours! I also love how they are drying on the air hockey table! I often have the problem of where to let them dry after I make so many! I should have thought to e-mail you, you are the QUEEN! I am grateful that we still keep in touch after so long! Thank you for putting up with me at Radford!

Me said...

I don't care if I win our not (those cookie cutters do sound great from Crate & barrel though!), but I want to prove my loyal following. I am your follower on this blog already!

Me said...

and I will be blogging about your blog...which is the 2nd time I have done so!! (Random things about Moi in July)

Hey, you see leave additional comments for doing these things! So I did!

Rhonda said...

Your cookies look very pretty!

I would love a dslr camera for Christmas!

Memória said...

From Santa, I want enough money to pay for the deductible I owe after a recent car accident I had a few days ago. I can't believe it happened during Xmas season. I feel so bummed despite the fact that my mom bought me a KitchenAid Stand Mixer for the holiday :(.

Memória said...

BTW, I love the gingerbread men! I forgot to mention that! I will have to try the stronger version.

one frugal lady said...

These look awesome, by the way, your gingerbread men are the best I have EVER seen. They look too good to eat! I am asking santa for a breadmaker this year! I made bread once in my life, and it took me over 6 hours to make, but it was wonderful. I am thinking a breadmaker might be helpful!

Stacy said...

I would love Santa to pay off our bills.

hetz-junk(at)hotmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I want a check from Santa to pay off a hospital bill I have -- that'd do me just fine!

Cristine said...

Good eye! Yep, it's Cooking Light. I haven't made much from it, but I like it! :)

Anonymous said...

I love gingerbread cookies. For Christmas, I want a new bed.
derekandjennifer97@yahoo.com

Leah said...

Thanks for the recipe I think your gingerbread man are cute and look so yummy to eat!!

I want a wii fit from santa =]

Thanks for the awesome giveaway!!

Unknown said...

I want a kitchenaid mixer. I've killed literally three hand-helds this year. It's time we updgraded.

boldnessbe(at)gmail(dot)com

Sandy S said...

I am hoping that Santa brings me a new vacuum. My old one id dying. Thanks for the chance to win!

skstigger (at) hotmail.com

Sandy S said...

I am a follower through the widget. Thanks!
skstigger (at) hotmail.com

$5 Dinner Mom said...

I'm suddenly craving a gingerbread man!

Answer to your ???...adding water with the chicken will just dilute your stock. It's fine to do that. I always add about a cup of water in with my chicken when I do them in the crockpot. If I didn't add water, then I would dilute out the stock a little with water before freezing it. So either way, it's diluted a bit :)

Merry Christmas!

Erin

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