Ingredients:
3 cups flour
2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 cup softened butter (1.5 sticks)
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
MIX first 6 ingredients. Set aside. Beat butter and sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add molasses, egg and vanilla, mix well. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed. Press dough into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
ROLL out dough to 1/4-inch thickness on lightly floured work surface. Cut into gingerbread men with 5-inch cookie cutter. Place 1-inch apart on ungreased baking sheets.
BAKE in preheated 350 degree oven 8 to 10 minutes or until edges of cookies just begin to brown. Cool on baking sheets 2 minutes. Remove to wire racks and cool completely. Decorate cookies by piping designs with plain and Colorful Royal Icing (see mccormick.com for recipe).
Makes 2 dozen.
