Christmas Gingerbread Cookies

After a busy week of cooking a Christmas Dinner for 20 something people last Saturday and finally doing the lasts of my Christmas gifts shopping, I can finally sit down with the family and enjoy some quality time together baking and decorating Gingerbread cookies. It was a really therapeutic exercise for me and the girls and Ming thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.



I was over at Big Boys Oven today and couldn’t help but feel totally blissful with the sound of Nat King Cole crooning “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire” in the background, so much so I have downloaded the tune for the purpose of adding some Christmas ambience to my blog. So, if you do so feel inclined, press ‘play’ on “imeem” on the top right hand corner of my blog. Don’t forget to check out the very gifted Sunny and Sid for some really creative festive baking ideas on their brilliant blog – I get loads of inspiration from these two awesomely cool dudes!



















I am also submitting these Gingerbread Cookies as an entry for Susan’s 'Eat Christmas Cookies'event. Check out Foodbloggafor more Christmas Cookie ideas or better yet, submit your very own entry for a chance to win a copy of Sherry Yard’s new cookbook, “Desserts by the yard”.












Christmas Gingerbread Cookies
Makes a whole lot of Gingerbread Cookies! Recipe may be halved to yield around 40-50 mid sized cookies.

1 ½ cups brown sugar
1 cup molasses
340g butter
5 cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 eggs
1tsp salt
1 ½ ground cloves
4 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
2 tbsp water

Mix softened butter and sugar till creamy. Add eggs, molasses and water and mix well. Mix the dry ingredients together then blend into butter mixture.
Wrap dough in two portions with cling wrap and chill for two hours or if you’re impatient like me, freeze for 40 minutes. Roll out dough onto lightly floured surface and cut out shapes using cookie cutters. Place cookies an inch apart on baking sheets and bake for 5 minutes on 175 degrees Celsius. Cool completely before decorating with royal icing.

Have a Blessed Christmas from my family to yours!