Gingerbread Cutouts

christmas-homemade-gingerbread-cookies-lg

Makes approx. 48 x 3 inch cookies

Ingredients

  • ½ cup vegetable shortening
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • ½ cup molasses
  • 1 egg
  • 2 ½ cups flour
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp ground cloves
  • 1 ½ tsp cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp nutmeg

Directions

  • In a medium bowl, cream together shortening, sugar and molasses until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg and mix another minute.
  • In a large bowl, sift together remaining ingredients. Fold in wet mixture and mix for one minute, until smooth.
  • Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
  • Preheat oven to 350F.
  • On a floured surface, roll out dough very thinly, between 1/8 and ¼ inch thick. Cut out desired shapes and space evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  • Bake for 8-9 minutes, rotating once halfway through. Let cool on a wire rack and decorate as desired.