Is there a better sign that the holidays have arrived than a winter afternoon spent baking gingerbread cookies while Christmas music plays in the background? Sweet, rich and spicy, gingerbread is the perfect December treat. Yesterday, my kitchen was filled with the delighted squeals of little girls decorating cookies. As I baked gingerbread trees, stars and snowflakes, the girls frosted, applied sprinkles, colored sugar, chocolate chips and debated whose cookie was prettiest.
Not to be outdone by the kiddos, I frosted a few snowflakes of my own, finishing them with crushed candy canes. The peppermint candy is a wonderful accompaniment to the spicy gingerbread. Rather than simply being sweet, the peppermint flavor dresses up the cookies, giving them a sophisticated taste and a little sparkle. I used a lemon icing for the frosting. The tanginess of the lemon disappears on the gingerbread, leaving a flavor that complements the spiciness of the cookies beautifully. An elegant and pretty way to dress up your holiday cookies - enjoy them with a steaming cup of tea while you decorate your tree.
Gingerbread Peppermint Cookies
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1/4 cup water
1 t. vanilla
2 1/2 cups AP flour
1/2 t. baking soda
3/4 t. salt
1 t. ginger
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. freshly ground nutmeg
Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add molasses, water and vanilla and mix until well combined. Sift flour and spices together and add to the butter mixture. Beat for several minutes until the flour is incorporated. Divide dough in half, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for several hours until well chilled.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. On a well floured surface, working with one packet of dough at a time, roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thick (thinner if you like crispy cookies) and cut into shapes. Transfer to a cookie sheet and bake about 10 minutes. Let then cookies sit on the baking sheet for a couple of minutes after removing them from the oven, then let cool completely on wire racks.
Lemon Icing
3 cups powdered sugar
3 - 4 tbsp. lemon juice or water
Combine in a bowl, adding the lemon juice or water slowly until the desired consistency is achieved.
Put down some waxed paper, put out some candy sprinkles and colored sugar. Frost and decorate your cookies, squealing often and sneaking bits of candy. Don't forget to debate whose cookies are the prettiest! Cheers!
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