Gingerbread family

Last year, my son asked why we don't put the Christmas tree at home and invite Santa.Without much hesitation and thoughts, we just ended up buying a Christmas tree and started decorating! Brought a gift from his wish list, sneaked in the garage until Christmas Eve. Wrap into gift and kept near the tree before he woke up! Like all kids, he thought Santa came while he was sleeping! We cannot truly connect to his world of joy.
At least for me, I remember, my mom lighting candles and decorating with flowers, for the bronze statue of Mary which she brought at Lourdes! Born Hindu, my parents let us set the Nativity set at home. They gave us quiet a freedom. But it was ironic to see the Ganesha- Saraswaty idols in middle of Joseph, Mary and Little Jesus! My brother gave a "silly" interpretation, well he was responsible to setting every year!
I received a convent education, daily prayers, carol, chapel was not new! My memories are still crisp, visiting the nativity set and tree at recess time!Most of my school friends were catholic, talked about their gifts stories! It was a fantasy world for me at that time.
Ok, this year we just put the tree and the gift? We ordered online and received when my son was at home. But , explained Santa sent him earlier and not to open before Christmas. Poor guy, he counts his days.
The recipe has nothing to do with the above story line. Coming to gingerbread cookie, he requested long back! He had fun cutting and decorating his cookies. Did you notice there is a missing gingerbread boys! Haha he left all gals alone for me (I could only save one man for the picture)!
The cookies are realy crisp and store well for a week! The original recipe comes from here.It is a kids friendly recipe!

Ingredients:

All purpose flour: 2 3/4 cups + extra for dusting
Baking powder: 2 1/2 tsp
Ground Ginger: 1 tbsp
Ground cinnamon: 1 1/2 tsp
Grated nutmeg: 1/2 tsp
Salt: 1/4 tsp
Unsalted butter: 8 tbsp (1 stick) at room temperature
Light brown sugar : 2 /3 cup packed firmly
Vanilla extract: 1 tsp
Egg: 1
Dark molasses : 1/3 cup (I used Unsulphured )

Mixing and baking:

Mix the dry ingredients first:
In a bowl, mix the dry ingredients together with a wooden spoon: flour, baking powder, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.
In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter, brown sugar and vanilla together for 3 min. It should come out creamy.
Add the egg and molasses and beat in medium speed until well blended.
Turn the mixer in low speed and add slowly the flour, beat until all come together. It may look crumbly.
Dump the flour mixture in work surface and press together. Divide the dough in half and make a flat disc and wrap it.

Refrigerate the dough until firm.

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease the cookie sheets.

Sprinkle little flour in work surface, unwrap the dough and roll into 1/4 thickness. Cut the dough with cookie cutter. Collect the scrap dough and repeat the same process, rolling cutting, etc..
Place the cutouts cookies spacing apart each others. Bake for 10 to 12 min. If you do different size of cutting, baking time vary....


For the icing.

Powdered sugar: 1 cup
Milk: 1 tbsp ( use few drops first and proceed to desire consistency)

Method
In a bowl, add the sugar and add slowly the milk, whisk briefly. Fill a piping bag or ziploc bag. If the icing is runny, leave it few hours in room temperature, it will start to hard or u can always increase the powdered sugar.

When the cookies are completely cooled- have fun decorating with your kid. Just cut the end of ziploc bag and let your creativity jingle....

Special Note: I thank each and everyone who left ur appreciations on my previous post and for all entries which keep coming for MEC event!


I may come up with another post before Christmas - if not I wish everyone a Merry Xmas and a Safe Holiday Season for those who is blowing out the snow.