Gingerbread Men

My favourite gingerbread recipe, we make these at Christmas usually.

6 cups all purpose flour
1 tbsp ground ginger
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup molasses
2 eggs
2 tsp finely shredded orange peel
1/2 tsp finely shredded lemon peel
1 recipe creamy frosting (optional)
1 recipe powdered sugar icing (optional)
decorative candies

1. In a medium mixing bowl stir together flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt; set aside.  In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds.  Add brown sugar and beat till fluffy.
2. In a small saucepan bring molasses to boiling.  Add hot molasses to butter mixture; beat on low speed till combined.  Add eggs, orange peel, and lemon peel; beating on low speed just till combined.  Add flour mixture to molasses mixture; stir with a spoon till mixed.  Divide dough into 4 portions.  Wrap each portion in waxed paper or clear plastic wrap; chill about 1 hour or till firm enough to handle.
3. Grease a cookie sheet; set aside.  On a lightly floured surface roll dough, one portion at a time, to 1/4 inch thickness.  Using small or large cookie cutters, cut dough into gingerbread people or other shapes, rerolling trimmings as necessary.  Arrange cutouts 1 inch apart on the prepared cookie sheet.
4. Bake in a 350 oven about 7 minutes or till edges are firm and light brown.  Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute.  Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.  If desired, decorate with creamy frosting, powdered sugar icing, and small candies.  Makes about 40 big cookies.

Creamy Frosting

*you can colour this frosting as you wish, then pipe or spread it on just about any cookie.

1 cup shortening

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp almond extract

4 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar

3 to 4 tbsp milk

few drops desired food colouring

* In a medium mixing bowl beat shortening, vanilla, and desired extract with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds.  Slowly add about 2 cups of the powdered sugar, beating well.  Add 2 tbsp of the milk.  Gradually beat in remaining powdered sugar and enough remaining milk (1 to 2 tbsp) to make a frosting of piping or spreading consistency.  If desired, stir in food colouring.  Makes 2 cups.

Powdered Sugar Icing

Make this icing as thick as you need for piping, drizzling or spreading.

1 cup sifted powdered sugar

1/4 tsp vanilla

milk or orange juice

few drops food colouring

*In a mixing bowl stir together sugar, vanilla, and 1 tbsp milk or juice.  Stir in milk or juice, 1 tsp at a time, till of piping (thick), drizzling (medium thickness), or spreading (thin) consistency.  If desired, stir in food colouring.