Christmas Cookie Finale-Gingerbread Men

Well, now, the past 12 weeks have past by so quickly, haven't they? Luckily, my family loves cookies and they didn't get tired of them, they are actually wondering which ones are next!

I am a firm believer that gingerbread men are a must on a cookie platter! They just make me smile when I see them. And maybe everyone doesn't like gingerbread, but they are so festive who can resist biting off their head or arm or maybe even the leg? :)

I have had so much fun baking along with Megan, Barbara, Megan, Kim and Denise these last weeks! You never knew what would be their choice of cookie each week and all of them are on my to make list! Thank you for cookie baking with me!!

Gingerbread
2/3 C brown sugar, packed
2/3 C molasses
1 t Ginger
1 t Cinnamon
1/2 t crushed cloves
3/4 T baking soda
2/3 C butter, softened
1 egg
5 C all purpose flour

Heat brown sugar, molasses, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves to boiling point. Remove from heat, add baking soda, and pour over butter in a large mixing bowl. Stir until butter is melted, then stir in egg and flour thoroughly. Knead for a few minutes, then gather dough into a ball. Refrigerate dough until firm enough to roll easily. Roll on a lightly floured board and cut with shaped cutter of choice. Place on greased cookie sheet or parchment and bake in 325 degree oven for 8-12 minutes.

Gingerbread Popcorn

I am not sure if I like this or not. I love popcorn, I love gingerbread, but put them together and I am not sure about it. I have a ton of recipes that I have collected over the years from magazines or ones that I have printed from places while web surfing. I have had this one for a couple of years, but I am not sure where I found it.

Making it was pretty simple, but I think that it needs to be tweaked some. I think next time, I will add a little cloves and maybe a little more brown sugar to it. Here's the recipe in case you want to try it out, and let me know if you make any changes to it and how it turns out.

Gingerbread Popcorn:

15 cups popped popcorn
1 cup butter
2 cups packed brown sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1 Tbsp ground ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.

Line 2 large baking dishes (I used a 9x13 inch) with foil and coat with cooking spray. Fill each with 7 1/2 cups popcorn.

Combine butter, brown sugar, molasses, corn syrup, ginger, cinnamon, and salt in a large, heavy bottom saucepan. Heat over medium heat until mixture boils. Boil for 5 minutes; stirring frequently. Remove from heat and add baking soda. Pour over popcorn; toss to coat.

Bake at 250 degrees for one hour, carefully stirring the warm mixture about every 15 minutes. Cool completely.

Gingerbread Men

This is my first time making gingerbread men from scratch, instead of the roll of dough, and I am truly addicted to it! During a conversation with my closet blogger friend, who happens to live in the same town that I live in, Shanna, talked about her gingerbread recipe. She gave me nothing but fantastic reviews on this dough. Of course, I had to have the recipe and she willingly shared it. I totally agree with her on this. It is easy to mix together and very forgiving. One of the things that I really liked about it was that it did not spread. And the flavor is amazing! Thanks for the recipe Shanna! You rock! :)

This weekend is the annual Ladies Christmas Tea at my church. This thing is amazing each year. A theme is named and a committee of women get to planning. This year's theme is Holy Express based off of the movie Polar Express. There will be a general store, and this is where the baskets will be displayed for raffling off. And then there is the bakery and that is where these little guys come in handy. Every bakery has gingerbread men in stock at the holidays, right?

I will be making these again closer to Christmas!

Gingerbread

2/3 C brown sugar, packed
2/3 C molasses
1 t Ginger
1 t Cinnamon
1/2 t crushed cloves

3/4 T baking soda
2/3 C butter
1 egg
5 C all purpose flour

Heat brown sugar, molasses, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves to boiling point. Remove from heat, add baking soda, and pour over butter in a large mixing bowl. Stir until butter is melted, then stir in egg and flour thoroughly. Knead for a few minutes, then gather dough into a ball. Refrigerate dough until firm enough to roll easily. Roll on a lightly floured board and cut w/ shaped cutter of choice. Place on greased cookie sheet or parchment and bake in 325 degree oven for 8-12 minutes.