Today is a Great Day to Make Gingerbread Snowmen

Gingerbread Snowmen

3/4 cup unsalted butter
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
3/4 cup molasses
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon allspice or cloves
1 large egg
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1. Melt the butter on stove or microwave, then stir in brown sugar, molasses salt and spices. I like to do this in a huge 8 cup measuring cup-- and mix it all up right in there. Cool a bit, and mix in the egg.

2. Stir baking soda and baking powder into the flour, and mix with wet ingredients.

3. Divide the dough into 4 pieces, put each into a quart ziplock bag, roll slightly and refrigerate for at least an hour.

4. Preheat oven to 350, line baking sheets with parchment

5. Using one piece of chilled dough at a time, roll out dough. If you roll it thinly the cookies will be crisp, if you roll it 1/4 inch thick, they will be chewy. I like to roll it between sheets of baking parchment. This way you do not have to flour the surface of the dough to avoid sticking.

6. Working quickly as you can, use cookie cutters to cut shapes, and transfer to lined baking sheets. Gather scraps into a ball, and return to ziplock in the fridge to re-chill.

7.  Bake until they're slightly brown around the edges 8 to 12 minutes, or until they feel firm. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for several minutes, or until they're set. Transfer them to a rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining dough.

10. Decorate the cookies with Royal Icing and desired decorations.

Royal Icing

• 3 tablespoons meringue powder
• 4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
• 6 tablespoons water

Beat all ingredients at low speed for 7 to 10 minutes, or until icing forms peaks. Tip: Keep icing covered with a wet kitchen towel at all times. Icing can dry out quickly.