Thursday, November 17, 2011

Our Family's Gingerbread Cookies


What with Christmas getting closer (after all, this is Week 8 already of the 12 Weeks of Christmas Cookies), I just had to share my family's recipe for gingerbread cookies. Making these cookies during the holidays has been a long cherished tradition. Every year, we come up with a different decorating theme. One year, it was cartoon characters. Another year, we decided to dress them in hula skirts and aloha shirts (since we're from Hawaii). It's always a fun time and we love showing off our artistic skills (though my youngest sister surpasses us all with her cookies). Of course, the best part is eating them.


Gingerbread Cookies

2/3 c. light brown sugar, packed
2/3 c. dark corn syrup
1 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
2/3 c. butter or margarine
1 egg
4 c. flour

Put sugar, syrup, spices, and salt in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Add the baking soda and butter and stir until the butter melts. Remove from the heat and let the mixture cool a little. Stir in the egg and then the flour. Mix well.

Form the dough into disks, wrap them in waxed paper, and chill until they are firm enough to roll. Roll out on a floured surface to about 1/4" thickness. Cut in shapes and bake at 350F for about 12-15 min. Decorate with icing as desired.


17 comments:

  1. These are just so cute! I've actually never tried ginger cookies, but I am definitely willing to over the Christmas period.

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  2. I love these! Great decorating job, Lisa!

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  3. Yes! Thank you so much for this recipe! I recently got a little gingerbread cutter and needed a recipe! Cute cookies...it's early, I thought that I recognize that round little bear looking guy...duh, it's on your button, I feel like such an airhead!

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  4. These cookies sound yummy and are decorated soo cute! Thanks for sharing. Thanks for your comment at my FB post. I was just thinking of stopping by to let you know I'm having a giveaway at my blog...come check it out. http://thebetterbaker.blogspot.com/2011/11/its-time-for-giveaway.html Have a great day Lisa. You are definitely an inspiration!

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  5. How fun! These look so delicious. Yummy!

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  6. Delicious! I love gingerbread. Family recipes are the best.

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  7. These are so adorable! I've never tried making gingerbread, but I love eating it, so I guess I should give it a try. Thanks for the recipe!

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  8. The cookies are so cute. I like this recipe, it doesn't use molasses. Molasses is impossible to source in this part of the world. Just wanted to check Lisa, do u use fresh grated ginger or a ginger powder?

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  9. Cute! Great job! So are the "Sweets" animal ones you made up or is that a character I just don't know? Love it.

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  10. Your cookies are adorable!!! I can imagine all the fin that was had as they were made. :) Thanks for the recipe!

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  11. What a fun tradition. The cookies are so cute!

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  12. Sounds like a fun time! They are so cute.

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  13. Gingerbread cookies are my favorites- yours are really cute!

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  14. How cute! I rarely have the patience to decorate mine properly so I'm always impressed with people who do!

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