Gingerbread

227 g unsalted butter, softened at room temperature 
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar 
1 egg 
1/2 cup dark molasses (not blackstrap) 
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 
3 1/4 cups cake flour (too soft, plain flour will do) 
1/2 teaspoon baking soda 
1/4 teaspoon salt 
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
2 teaspoons ground ginger 
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 

Royal Icing: 
2 cups or more confectioners' sugar 
3 tablespoons milk 
1 teaspoon egg white* 
Decorating: 
Raisins, as needed 
White chocolate chips, as needed 
Various food coloring 
Various colors of sanding sugar 

Equipment: Pastry bag fitted with small, round tip; cookie cutters in the shape of gingerbread men and women, dreidels, Christmas tree ornaments, and snowflakes; wire, string or yarn for stringing 

Make the Gingerbread: 
In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter until smooth. Add the sugar and mix. Add the eggs and mix. Add the molasses and vanilla and mix. 
Sift the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves together. Working in batches and mixing after each addition until just combined, add the dry ingredients to the butter-sugar mixture. Shape the dough into a thick disk, wrap in waxed paper, and refrigerate 1 to 2 hours. 
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C. 

Grease 1 or 2 cookie sheets. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out 1/4-inch thick and cut out with desired cookie cutters. 

To make the Royal Icing: In a mixer, blend the confectioners' sugar, milk, and egg white together. Add more sugar to get a pipe-able consistency. 


by jc_mum

Gingerbread Cookies

Ingredients (makes about 20 shapes ...depending on size)
125g margarine
75g brown sugar
1 egg yolk
300g plain flour
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
3 tsp ground ginger
2 1/2 tbsp golden syrup

Method
1) cream margarine and brown sugar, and beat in the egg yolk, mixing well. Sift in the flour, bicarbonate of soda and ginger and gradullay blend in the creamed mixture, along with the golden syrup. Knead lightly to make a soft dough.

2) Divide the dough into small portions. Roll out each portion of dough to a thickness of 1/2 cm in between two sheets of greaseproof paper. Cut into shapes using cutters.

3) Place on lightly greased oven trays. Bake at 180 degree for 10 mins. Cool on trays. Decorate with icing, if desired.

by mummykoala