Here is a favorite holiday recipe to fill your home with delicious cinnamon and ginger aromas, and put a smile on just about everyone's face and tummies! The rich molasses gives the cookie dough it's color, and the spices and touch of orange give these cookies an extra snap! This recipe makes about 30 - 35 gingerbread people or gingerbread trees. You can easily split the recipe in half.
1 cup of shortening
1 cup of sugar
2 - 2 and 1/2 teaspoons of ground ginger
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 teaspoon of ground cloves
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 cup of molasses
2 eggs
1 - 2 tablespoons of orange juice
4 - 5 cups of flour
In a mixing bowl beat shortening until smooth. Add sugar, ginger, baking powder, baking soda, cloves and cinnamon. Beat until all ingredients are moistened and combined well. Slowly add the molasses, eggs and orange juice. Beat in 2-3 cups of the flour. Then stir in the remaining 1-2 cups of flour until an easy to handle consitency (add more flour if the dough is not firm enough).
Divide the dough into three easy to handle sections, wrap, and chill for a few hours.
Roll cookies on lightly floured surface. Cut with desired cookie cutters. Bake at 375 degrees for about 6-8 min. Decorate the cooled cookies with a simple powdered sugar icing if desired.
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