Molasses Spice Cutouts

  Desserts

Meet the Cook: It hardly ever fails - when I send these cookies to school with out youngsters (15 and 12), I'm almost always asked for the recipe by their teachers!

Molasses Spice Cutouts

Average Rating: 5

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 30 min. + chilling Bake: 15 min./batch + cooling
YIELD: about 7-8 dozen (2-1/2-in cookies).

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1-1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 cup light molasses
  • 1/2 cup cold coffee
  • 6 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

  • ICING (optional):
  • 1 envelope unflavored gelatin
  • 3/4 cup cold water
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Colored sugar
  • Decorator icing, optional

Instructions

  • 1. In a bowl, cream butter and sugar; beat in molasses and coffee. Stir together flour, baking soda, salt and spices; add to molasses mixture and mix well. Chill dough 1-2 hours or until easy to handle. If needed, add a little additional flour before rolling. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with holiday cutters dipped in flour. Place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes. Cool on wire racks.
  • 2. For icing if desired combine gelatin and water in a small saucepan. Let stand for 5 minutes to soften. Add sugar. Heat and stir over very low heat until the gelatin and sugar dissolve. Transfer to a bowl. Add confectioners' sugar; beat until foamy. Add baking powder and vanilla; beat until very thick, about 10 minutes.
  • 3. Frost cookies by inverting them and quickly swirling the tops in the icing; decorate with colored sugar. For traditional gingerbread men, use decorator icing to add features as desired.

Nutrition Facts

2 each: 152 calories, 5g fat (3g saturated fat), 12mg cholesterol, 164mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 0 fiber), 2g protein.

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