20 Days of Cookies - Day 3

Day 3: Gingerbread Cookie People

Is it bad that every year this time I look forward to biting the head off of a Gingerbread Man? Just kidding of course. But I do think of the scene from Shrek when Gingy says, "Do you know....the muffin man?" I personally have a Man and Woman cutter and love playing "dress-up" when icing their details on. Must be the girl in me! No matter what they "wear" I can't complete any Gingerbread Person without cinnamon decals for their buttons!

3 3⁄4 cups AP flour


3 tsp. ground cloves


3 1⁄2 tsp. ground cinnamon


2 1⁄2 tsp. ground ginger


1 1⁄4 tsp. baking soda

11 tbsp. unsalted butter, softened


1 cup packed dark brown sugar


1⁄2 cup dark corn syrup


1⁄2 cup heavy cream

• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and baking soda; set aside.

• In another large bowl, beat together the butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup using a stand mixer on medium speed until the mixture is pale and fluffy, 1–2 minutes.

• Add the reserved spice mixture and the heavy cream in 3 alternating batches, beginning and ending with the spice mixture, until the dough just combines. Transfer dough to a work surface, divide in half, and shape each half into a flat disk. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap; refrigerate for 1 hour.

• Heat oven to 350°. Unwrap 1 disk of dough and place on a floured work surface. Using a rolling pin, roll dough to a 1⁄8" thickness. Cut out cookies using the cookie cutters of your choice and place cookies 2" apart on parchment paper–lined baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough, rerolling scraps.

• Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes. Bake cookies, 1 sheet at a time, until browned and set, about 12 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack and let cool.

Icing:

2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted

1 tsp. fresh lemon juice

1 egg white, lightly beaten

1/2 tsp. Tahitian vanilla extract

• To make an icing, whisk confectioners' sugar, lemon juice, egg white, and vanilla in a medium bowl until smooth. Transfer icing to a resealable plastic bag (or a pastry bag). Snip off a bottom corner of the bag and pipe icing onto cookies in a decorative pattern.

(Recipe adapted from Saveur)

(Photo from Shrek by DreamWorks)