Nothing says christmas like the smell of gingerbread cookies. Since I was a little kid baking with my grandmother, this has been the ultimate christmas smell and taste. Every year we made a christmas house, well not a whole house. She only made the fronts and placed candle lights behind them so that it looked like a lit up house. I try to keep the tradition alive by baking one every christmas. This recipe will give you several house fronts+a bunch of cookies.
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Makes several houses and a bunch of cookies

1 1/2 cups dark molasses
1 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup cold water
1/3 cup shortening
7 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground allspice
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
powdered sugar
water
decor sugar

  1. Start with designing your house.
  2. Draw it on card stock, cut it out and cut out the windows.
  3. Mix together the molasses, brown sugar, water and shortening.
  4. Sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, allspice, ginger, cloves and cinnamon.
  5. Add to sugar mixture and mix well.
  6. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
  7. Roll dough 1/4 inch thick on floured board.
  8. Use your template and cut out the house.
  9. Transfer to a cookie sheet and cut out the windows on the sheet.
  10. It's just easier to do it that way.
  11. Bake at 350F, 180C for 10-12 minutes or until golden.
  12. Cool on a wire rack.
  13. Mix together powdered sugar and water to a thick frosting.
  14. Use a little as glue and glue the gelatin to the back of the windows.
  15. Decorate your house and sprinkle some decor sugar on the roof so it looks like it's been snowing.
  16. Use some frosting to glue your house to a platter and sprinkle with sugar.
  17. Light a candle behind it and think of your loved ones. I will.

TIP:

Photography by Studio Dreyer Hensley

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