Ingredients
3 C flour, sifted
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 C brown sugar
2/3 C shortening
2 tsp ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves or allspice
3/4 C molasses
Instructions
Cream together shortening, brown sugar, spices and salt; add the egg and mix thoroughly. Add molasses and blend. Sift together the flour, soda, baking powder and add the molasses mixture. Stir well until dough is completely mixed together. You might want to finish the mixing with your hands to ensure that all of the ingredients are blended together. Divide dough into four portions and wrap in plastic wrap or waxed paper. Chill for at least an hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
You will be working with one piece at a time so make sure to keep the other pieces wrapped in plastic wrap. Roll dough out on a floured table to 1/4-3/8 thick. Cut with gingerbread man cookie cutter or any other shape of your choice.
Bake on greased cookie sheets. For thin and crispy gingerbread, roll dough out to 1/4 in., and then bake for 7-8 minutes until brown around edges. For slightly thicker and chewier cookies, roll dough out to 3/8 in., and bake for only 6 minutes or just until bottoms are lightly brown. Cool cookies for 2 minutes on the baking sheet, then remove to cooling rack for several minutes. Allow cookies to cool completely before decorating.
