Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread Cookies – feature

Ingredients for Cookies:

• 1 cup shortening
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup molasses
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 2 eggs
• 4-1/ cups flour
• 3 tsp. ground ginger
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• sugar for sprinkling

Ingredients for Frosting:

• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 5 +/- Tbsp. half-and-half

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Cream shortening and brown sugar, then add molasses, buttermilk and eggs, blending well.
3. In a separate bowl, sift flour, ginger, baking soda, and salt together, and add into the molasses mixture. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
4. Roll dough out on a floured surface to 1/4″ thickness, and cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Sprinkle with sugar and bake for 10 to 12 minutes. (If using frosting, skip the sugar sprinkles.) Makes approx. 5 dozen.

Directions For Optional Frosting:

1. In large bowl, stir together all frosting ingredients until smooth and spreadable. Decorate cookies with frosting.