Gingerbread House

My girls love making gingerbread men at Christmas and this year is no exception. Lucy even roped her boyfriend into helping make this gingerbread house. Cute isn't it?

If you're looking for an easy recipe, then you've come to the right place!

Gingerbread Cookies

Ingredients:3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, soft
¾ cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
½ cup unsulphured molasses
1 large egg

Royal Icing (see recipe below), candies, sprinkles to decorate

Directions:

1. Prepare cookie dough: Whisk flour, baking soda and salt together in a small bowl.
2. In a large bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
3. Add the ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves until well mixed.
4. Beat in the molasses and egg.
5. Using a wooden spoon slowly beat in the flour until a dough ball forms.
6. Cut the dough in halves and wrap each piece in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to 2 hours until firm.
7. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
8. Roll dough out to 11/4 inch thickness on lightly floured surface. Cut out gingerbread people or shapes of your choice.
9. Place on cookie sheets and bake for approx. 12 minutes or until light golden brown.
10. Cool on wire racks, and then decorate as desired.

Royal Icing:
Ingredients:1 large egg white, room temperature
3/4 - 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
Food coloring, optional

Directions:

1. In a bowl using an electric mixer, beat egg white until just frothy.
2. Add powdered sugar. Mix with wooden spoon until sugar is incorporated into the egg white.
3. Add food coloring one drop at a time if desired.