Recipe

When Nancy Schubert was growing up, “Gingerbread Saturday” was a tradition in her house, and she and her sister would spend the day rolling dough, cutting shapes, and baking and decorating cookies. To bedeck these chubby little bears – a recipe that took first place in 1992 – she used colored sugar, little candies and a classic royal icing. Confectioners’ sugar icing or tubes of decorator icing can also be used.
Prep time: 35 Minutes/Chill Time: 2 Hours Or Overnight
Cooking time: 7 To 10 Minutes Per Batch
Ingredients

3½ cups unsifted all-purpose flour
1½ teaspoons ginger
1½ teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup (1 stick) butter, softened
¾ cup sugar
1 large egg
¾ cup light molasses
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
Decorations as desired

Directions

1. Measure 3½ cups flour; sift together with spices, baking soda and salt; set aside. Beat butter with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth. Add sugar and mix on high speed until light and fluffy, 2 minutes. Add egg and mix well. Stop the mixer and add molasses and lemon rind. Mix on low speed to combine. Stir in dry ingredients with a wooden spoon.

2. Divide dough into four parts. Wrap each one separately in plastic wrap and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.

3. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease baking sheets.

4. Remove one piece of dough from the refrigerator at a time. Roll the well-chilled dough on a floured board or between sheets of wax paper to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut out with cookie cutters and carefully transfer to prepared baking sheets, leaving 1 inch between each cookie.

5. Bake just until the cookies are lightly browned and set, 7 to 10 minutes. Do not overbake. Transfer from baking sheets to a wire rack and cool completely before decorating. Decorate as desired. Store in airtight containers.

© 2014 by the Chicago Tribune
Note from Cookstr's Editors

Nutritional information is based on 48 cookies, one cookie per serving.

Nutritional Information
Nutrients per serving (% daily value)

Calories
79kcal (4%)
Sodium
39mg (2%)
Total Carbohydrate
14g
Fiber
0g
Fat
2g (3%)
Trans Fat
0g
Saturated Fat
1g (6%)
Monounsaturated Fat
1g
Polyunsaturated Fat
0g
Cholesterol
9mg (3%)
Sugar
6g
Protein
1g
Magnesium
15mg
Potassium
90mg
Vitamin A
18mcg RAE (1%)
Vitamin C
0mg (0%)
Calcium
14mg (1%)
Iron
1mg (4%)