Leaving cookies for Saint Nicholas is a fair exchange for the Christmas joy he brings children on Christmas morning. Take the extra step and leave him with some thoughtfully home-made treats to demonstrate your appreciation and make up for any naughtiness he may have overlooked this year.
Ingredients
170g butter, softened
3/4 Cup packed brown sugar
2/3 Cup molasses
1 Large egg
1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
3 1/4 Cups plain flour
1 Tablespoon ground ginger
1 Teaspoon baking soda
1 Teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 Teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 Teaspoon salt
Zest of 1 orange (optional)
Icing and Sprinkles, for decorating
Directions
1. In a large bowl using a hand mixer, beat butter, brown sugar, and molasses until fluffy, about two minutes. Add egg and vanilla and beat until combined. –
2. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, spices, baking soda, and salt until combined. With the mixer on low, gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, as well as orange zest if using until dough just comes together, being careful not to overmix.
3. Divide dough in half and create two discs. Wrap each in plastic wrap and chill until firm, about two to three hours. (Alternatively, divide dough in half and roll each piece of dough between two pieces of parchment to 1cm thick. Chill until firm.-
4. Preheat oven to 160 degrees and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Place one disc of dough on a lightly floured surface and roll until 1cm thick. (Alternatively, peel off both sheets of parchment from dough, then replace one sheet of parchment back underneath dough.) Cut out gingerbread men with an approx. 5cm wide cutter and transfer to baking sheets.-
5. Bake until slightly puffed and set, nine to 10 minutes, depending on the size of your cookie cutters. Let cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.-
6. Repeat with remaining disc of dough. Decorate with icing and sprinkles as desired.
