Gingerbread Cookies for Homemade Gifts

It is our family tradition to make lots of beautiful cookies for Christmas. When my Mom told my brother that her arthritis was getting too bad to bake cookies this year, I suggested that I fly from Kansas to Ohio a few days before Thanksgiving and Mom and I could make the cookies together--her brains and my brawn.

Gingerbread Men

1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
1/3 cup molasses
1 large egg
2T. water
2 2/3 cup all purpose flour
1t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
2t. ground ginger
1/2 t. ground cinnamon
1/2 t. ground nutmeg
1/2 t. ground allspice

1. Cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in molasses, egg and water. Sift together dry ingredients. Gradually beat into creamed mixture. Divide dough into disks, wrap and refrigerate 30 min.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/8" thick. Cut out with cutters. Place 2" apart on greased baking sheets.

3. Bake 8-10 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/gingerbread-men-cookies

Ornamental Frosting

1/4 c. margarine
4 cups confectioners sugar
2 egg whites
1 t. vanilla
1/2 t. cream of tartar
1-2 t. cream or milk

1. Beat margarine, 2 cups of sugar, and cream of tartar. Add remaining ingredients and beat smooth.

2. Decorate with lines of frosting, red hots, mini chocolate chips, etc.