Gingerbread Men Recipe

Submitted by monkeyshoes

Makes 36 servings

gingerbread men

Ingredients

1/2	cup butter, softened
1/2	cup brown sugar
2/3	cup molasses
2	eggs
4	cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/2	teaspoon baking soda
1/2	teaspoon salt
1/2	teaspoon ground allspice
1/2	teaspoon ground cloves
1/2	teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2	teaspoon ground ginger
1	pound confectioners' sugar
1/2	teaspoon cream of tartar
3	egg whites

Directions

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in the molasses and eggs. Combine 1 1/2 cups of the flour, baking soda, salt, allspice, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger; beat into the molasses mixture. Gradually stir in the remaining flour by hand to form a stiff dough.
3. Divide dough into 2 pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
4. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
5. In a medium bowl, sift together confectioners' sugar and cream of tartar. Blend in egg whites. Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat for about 5 minutes, or until mixture is thick and stiff. Keep covered with a moist cloth until ready to frost cookies.