Gingerbread Cookies

Taste of Home


Gingerbread Cookies

From Light & Tasty

When your friends reach into a tin of these old-fashioned cookies, they're sure to think Grandma baked them! Our Test Kitchen staff came up with this lighter recipe for crunchy gingerbread cookies with lovely icing accents.

INGREDIENTS

* 6 tablespoons butter, softened
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 cup molasses
* 1 egg
* 2 tablespoons white vinegar
* 4 cups all-purpose flour
* 2 teaspoons ground ginger
* 1-1/4 teaspoons baking soda
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 5 cups confectioners' sugar
* 5 to 6 tablespoons fat-free milk
* Assorted paste food coloring, optional

DIRECTIONS

In a mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until crumbly, about 2 minutes. Beat in the molasses, egg and vinegar. Combine the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or until easy to handle (dough will be sticky).
On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with 4 in. cookie cutters dipped in flour. Using a floured spatula, place cookies 1 in. apart on baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 5-6 minutes or until set. Remove to wire racks to cool.
For icing, combine confectioners' sugar and milk in bowl. Spread over cooled cookies; let dry completely. If desired, combine paste food coloring and a few drops of water; using a fine brush or the blunt end of a wooden skewer, decorate cookies. Yield: 6-1/2 dozen.