Gingerbread Men

You could argue the best part of Christmas baking is decorating gingerbread men.  I take that back.  Taste-testing the dough and/or baked creations is the best.  Gingerbread come in at a close second.  

This year a teacher ordered a batch of gingerbread men, so they had to look gorgeous... Well how did I do?  I was pretty proud of myself!  Not a difficult design, but they all turned out decent and uniform.  

Halfway through I was ready to chop off my hand!  (If it was like the gingerbread's arms I would have taken a big bite!)  One batch makes 2-3 dozen...and each cookie has 4 swirls, 2 eyes, a mouth, a bow tie, and two buttons.  Let me tell you that's a lot of decorating! But it was worth it.  Look how beautiful, they belong on a big tray at some expensive Christmas party...

Okay, maybe I'm dreaming a bit...  One day.  One day someone rich or famous will order my gingerbread men for their Christmas party.  But until then I guess I'll just have to keep making them for myself.  

This is really the only gingerbread recipe I'll use.  It's soft and chewy, not too sweet but still has all the flavors of gingerbread.  I'm surprised there were enough cookies left to take a picture!  Or the ones in the photo aren't missing an arm or a leg!

Gingerbread Men

by Simple and Sweet Creations

6071081

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons butter, softened
• 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• Decorating icing and assorted candies

Instructions

In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in molasses, egg, vanilla and lemon peel.

In another bowl, whisk flour, ginger, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and cloves. Gradually beat into creamed mixture.

Divide dough in half. Wrap each half in plastic wrap and refrigerate 30 minutes or until easy to handle.

Preheat oven to 350° F. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut with a floured 4-in. gingerbread man cookie cutter.

Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until edges are firm.

Cool on wire rack and decorate.

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Pumpkin Squares

Every time we make these pumpkin squares I have to take a plate to my neighbors.  They absolutely love them!  I made them for my bake sale and they were a hit.  Some people even asked to buy a whole tray!

Looks like someone sampled these already...

Yes, my neighbor was one of those people.  I saved him two (large!) pumpkin squares too!  Obviously that wasn't enough...

...don't mind if I do!

His obsession with pumpkin squares started about a year ago.  While we were on vacation, he offered to watch our horses and cats and get the mail.  How sweet :) To thank him for coming over, my mom and I made his family a tray of pumpkin squares. 

Pictures took a little too long

Now let me tell you...one batch makes quite a few pumpkin squares.  They're great to make for large groups, parties, or bake sales.  I think they returned the tray in two days...completely gone!  They're that addictive.  BEWARE!

Pumpkin Squares

by Simple and Sweet Creations

6071077

Ingredients

Cake

• 1 cup oil
• 2 cups flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 15 ounces canned pumpkin
• 4 eggs
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

Frosting

• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 ounces cream cheese
• 3/4 stick butter
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

Combine first eight ingredients in the bowl of a standing mixer. Pour into a greased floured jelly roll pan.

Bake at 350* F for 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely before frosting.

Beat remaining five ingredients in a standing mixer. Add more powdered sugar if frosting seems too runny.

Frost cooled cake and cut into squares.

VARIATION

Omit frosting and sprinkle cooled cake with powdered sugar.

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Cut Out Sugar Cookies

These are my aunt's favorite cookies!  When we make them for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner she swears she could eat them all.  Sometimes she even makes us hide them from her!  Yes, they're that delicious.

I made these for my bake sale last week (red, white, and blue stars for Veterans) and they were a hit.  An elementary teacher came over and bought (not lying) at least a dozen.  By Saturday night she said they were all gone.  So much for freezing them for the holidays...

I'm pretty picky when it comes to cookies.  Nothing too crunchy, too sweet, too dry, too soft.  Let's just say I'm pretty hard to please.  (You can blame my mother for that one!  I've been spoiled since day one with delicious homemade cooking!)

These may be the only sugar cookies I'll eat.  They're firm, but not too hard.  Soft, but not fall apart in your hand.  Sweet, but not that you can't finish the whole cookie.  (You could will easily eat more than one!)  

Oh...and don't forget to sample the dough!  You can always tell if a cookie is going to be good by tasting the dough. :)

Cut Out Sugar Cookies

by Simple and Sweet Creations

6071080

Ingredients

Cookie

• 1 cup margarine
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 eggs
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons cream of tarter
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

Frosting

• 3 cups confectionery sugar
• 1/4 cup margarine
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a standing mixer.

Cover and chill several hours before rolling.

Preheat oven to 350° F.

Roll and cut out on a generously floured surface.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes.

Allow to cool before frosting.

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