It wouldn't be Christmas without the chance to dress gingerbread cookies in frosting finery.

Ingredients

• 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
• 2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp. ground cloves
• 1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 cup butter, softened

• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup molasses
• Tubes of white decorator's frosting
• Red and green M & M's and Skittles

Instructions

1. In a medium-sized bowl, sift the flour, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and baking soda. Set aside dry ingredients.

2. In a large bowl, blend the butter and brown sugar. Add the eggs, one at a time, and then the molasses. Slowly add the flour mixture to the molasses mixture, stirring after each addition with the wooden spoon or mixer (the dough should be stiff).

3. Divide the dough in half, flatten into a thick pancake (a fun step for kids set up with a rolling pin) and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 2 hours, or until the dough is firm enough to roll (if it becomes too stiff, soften for 10 minutes at room temperature).

4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. On a floured counter, roll out the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out gingerbread men and a spatula to transfer them to a greased cookie sheet, spacing them 1 inch apart. Bake for 10 minutes, or until light brown.

5. Once the gingerbread men have cooled, invite your kids to pipe on frosting features and clothing (they can make both boys and girls -- or even a whole gingerbread family). Add red and green candies for buttons. Makes about 25 cookies.

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• Cookies & Gingerbread |
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• Holiday & Seasonal Cookies