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| Gingerbread Cookies (source: Pixabay) |
Gingerbread cookies are traditionally made in shapes such as flowers, hearts, and trees. They can be made in different sizes and can be iced and decorated.
The Gingerbread Man shape probably goes back to the time of Queen Elizabeth I. History tells us that her palace baker during her reign (1558 to 1603) baked and decorated gingerbread men in the likenesses of important court visitors for Her Majesty to present to them.
The tale of Hansel and Gretel of Grimm’s Fairy Tales (1812) increased the popularity of gingerbread cookies and other treats. Later, Gingerbread men and animals became popular Christmas tree ornaments.
Gingerbread Cookie Recipes
There are lots of gingerbread cookie recipes online.
For a different and a bit unusual Gingerbread Cookie recipe, I found this one in a gingerbread crafts leaflet:
Gingerbread Cutout Cookies
by Shelly Vaughan
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| Source: Pixabay |
Touch of Pineapple Gingerbread People Cookies
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup butter-flavored shortening
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup dark molasses
- 1 cup pineapple juice or more as needed
- 5 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1-1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Miniature candy-coated chocolate candies (M&Ms) and/or raisins
Icing:
- 1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
- 2 tablespoons pineapple juice:
Instructions:
- For cookies, combine shortening, sugar and molasses in large bowl. Stir in pineapple juice. In another bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Gradually stir into molasses mixture until thoroughly incorporated (Dough will be stiff.) Cover and chill for 2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray once.
- On floured surface, roll dough out 1/3 inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with floured cookie cutter, using gingerbread people cutter or other cutter. Place cookies 1"-2" apart on prepared cookie sheet. Decorate with candies and/or raisins as desired. Bake for 10 minutes, or until light finger indentation springs back. Cool completely.
- Store cookies in single layer in airtight container, or layer cookies with waxed paper separating layers.
*Makes 3 dozen.
Decorating Gingerbread Cookies
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| Source: Pixabay |
Decorating Tips
- Gently press decorating candies or other items into cookies before baking.
- Pipe icing onto warm cookies with a small decorating tip.
- Icing is quick and easy to make. If you prefer convenience items, however, you may use tubes of decorating icing with decorating tips.
- If you would like to add some color to your cookies, lightly spinkle colored sugars, sprinkles, nonpareils or flaked coconut over wet icing. Gently shake off excess, if necessary.
Gingerbread People Parts
It's fun to personalize your gingerbread people. When baking with children, this is the part they like the best. Here are a few suggestions:
- Eyes -- raisins, dried blueberries, miniature M&Ms.
- Noses -- cinnamon red-hot candies, M&Ms, dried cranberries.
- Buttons -- raisins, cinnamon-coated raisins or golden raisins, small jelly beans, decorating stars, miniature M&Ms, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, butterscotch chips, walnut pieces, pecan pieces, macadamia nut pieces.
- Mouths -- licorice strings, almond slivers, red or pink decorating icing.
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| Currently Available on Etsy |
*The gingerbread cutout cookie recipe and decorating tips are by Shelly Vaugham and was printed in the craft leaflet "Easy Gingerbread Crafts" published by House of White Birches in 1999. Available on Etsy on sale at the present time.
And, in addition to the above recipe, Coletta Teske of Review This! included a yummy looking gingerbread cookie recipe in her blog post food review of Simple Snacks for Santa.
Other Forms of Gingerbread Cookies
Besides edible gingerbread cookies, other forms of this cookie have become popular.
Gingerbread toys are fun too
Plush Gingerbread Cookie Doll
Adorable gingerbread man plush doll handmade in crochet. He measures about 8 inches high.
He will look great with your holiday décor or in your kitchen year!
Created by Jackie of Pittsburgh, PA and available in her Etsy Shop Jackie Draz Art.
Gingerbread Holiday Decor
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| Gingerbread Cookie Coasters |
Add to the decoration of your home for the holidays with this set of Gingerbread Cookie Coasters.
This is a set of 4 drink coasters with a gingerbread cookie design. Two coasters have a gingerbread boy with a candy cane. Two coasters have a gingerbread boy with a heart.
Gingerbread Cookie Coasters are handmade in needlepoint using acrylic yarn and plastic canvas. They measure 3.5 x 3.75 inches.
Gingerbread Cookie Playset
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Christmas Gingerbread Men Cookies Playset |
Gingerbread Holidays Throughout the Year
November 21st isn't the only gingerbread holiday. Besides this 'cookie' day, we have:
- National Gingerbread Day on June 5.
- Gingerbread Decorating Day on December 9.
- Gingerbread House Day on December 12.
Happy Gingerbread Cookie Day!
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
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