Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Gingerbread Cookies

I have been baking a lot these days, mostly cookies, to give friends and also for us. Yesterday we finished the last batch of cookies and the kids had a fun time (and their mom had a not-so-fun time!) decorating them.  Are you all set for the holidays?

Gingerbread cookie is a classic and indicative of this holiday season more than any other cookie in my opinion.  My daughter decorated the Ginger Bread cookies and by the time my son awoke from his nap we were glad to have been done with them.  But there was no way of escaping him from helping out with sprinkling some edible pearl on the sugar cookies.  (If you want to bake sugar cookies, here is the link)

Traditional cookies that are a treat to the eyes and to the tummy, especially for you!

Gingerbread Cookies

This is how our Gingerbread Men look like ;-) My kids enjoyed making buttons for them

Gingerbread Cookies

My dining table was looking so festive with all these and some Sugar cookies I made (you could see them in the goodie bag, green color X'mas trees)


Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread X'mas Tree, decorated by my 9 year old :-)

Gingerbread Cookies


Ingredients:

All purpose Flour- 3 cups
Baking Soda- 1 tsp
Cinnamon - 1 1/2 tsp
Ginger Powder- 1 tsp
Nutmeg Powder- 1/4 tsp
Ground Cloves- 1/4 tsp
Freshly Ground Black Pepper- 1/4 tsp
Salt- 1/2 tsp

Unsalted Butter- 1/2 cup
Vegetable Shortening- 2 Tbsp
Granulated white sugar- 1/2 cup
Unsulfured molasses- 2/3 cup
Egg- 1 large

Method:

1.Sift together the flour, salt , baking soda and spices into a large mixing bowl.
2.Beat together the butter (at room temperature) and shortening till they are combined well.
3.Add in the sugar and beat till it is creamy.
4.Add the molasses (spray your measuring cup with oil so that it will not stick) and beat well.
5.Beat in the egg too.
6.Slowly fold in the flour mixture till everything is combined well.
7.Make 2 equal sized discs out of the dough and cover them with plastic wrap and chill for at least a couple of hours or until the dough is hard enough to roll.
8.Preheat the oven at 350 degree F and line 2 baking trays with parchment paper.
9.Take out the dough and wait for a few minutes before you start to roll it.
10.Lightly flour the surface and roll out the dough until it is 1/8 inch thick and using a cookie cutter cut into desired shapes and keep them on the baking sheets.
11.Chill the cut cookie dough again for 10 minutes before you bake them.
12.Bake for about 12 minutes or until the sides start to brown.
13.Cool on wire rack and decorate once it is completely cooled.
14.Store them in an airtight container after the icing is completely dry.





For Royal Icing:

Confectioner's sugar- 1 cup
Vanilla extract- 1/2 tsp
Egg whites poder/Meringue powder- 3/4 Tbsp
Warm water- 2 Tbsp

1.Mix the egg whites powder and warm water using a whisk, till it is frothy.
2.Mix in the confectioner's sugar and beat till it is very stiff and shiny.
3.Transfer into a pastry bag with a narrow tip and decorate the cookies.


Notes:

1.The original recipe called for light brown sugar instead of white sugar.
2.The icing hardens really fast, so keep any unused icing covered.
3.If you do not have a pastry bag then fill the icing in a ziploc bag, zip the bag and cut a small edge in one of the corners and decorate (That's what I did ;-)
4.This gives about 3 dozen cookies.

Last but not the least We would like to share a goodie bag with you all, the wonderful readers of Collaborative Curry, to say Happy Holidays !!!

Gingerbread Cookies

Contributor: Namitha
Recipe Adapted From : Foodnetwork.com

46 comments:

  1. Beautiful cookie parcels, they looks a treat.

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  2. Gingerbread cookies looks awesome. Nice treat.

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  3. Woww cookies looks fantastic..Kisses to the cutie pie who decorated prefectly those fabulous cookies..

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  4. cookies looks awesome..perfectly bake n wrappin!

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  5. wow...thats such a cute and yummy looking cookies...Perfect for Christmas..:)

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  6. Owww cookies looks so cuteee :))

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  7. cute and yummy cookies..nice presentaion..

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  8. Looks so so festive.. Kudos to kids who helped u so much.. cookies looks marvelous..

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  9. Great job Nami and happy to hear kids were there to help too..Lovely cookies and lovely pics...

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  10. wow looking great....loved the recipe and the ginger bread man

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  11. They look very cute! I agree that while it may be fun for the kids, it is not as fun for the mommy because she has to do the cleanup. I remember those days...there was more stuff under the table than on the table. My boys have outgrown cookie decorating...phew!

    Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you and yours!

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  12. Lovely ginger bread cookies, very cute too

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  13. I love gingerbread man...Never tried it myself yet...have been planning to make some for sometime...
    Pictures looks like lots of fun...:)

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  14. Cookies look sooooooo cute. Must have tasted great as well. I too would follow your recipe and prepare the same very soon.

    `Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  15. Fantastic... they look so cute and festive :) I adore those little men a lot :) And when kids are involved they are extra special :)

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  16. Cute and excellent cookies.Nice work by your kid:)

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  17. Beautiful and cute! Love the spices you've used in them. Happy holidays dear..

    http://treatntrick.blogspot.com

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  18. Oh X'mas is certainly around the corner :)

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  19. lovely cookies...& thnx for the goodie bag...merry xmas to u too...luvd ur place..& so following..

    http://hasnasdelights.blogspot.com

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  20. Hey,

    Vute ginger bread cookies...Love them...:)

    Dr.Sameena@

    http://www.myeasytocookrecipes.blogspot.com/

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  21. Gosh they look like a piece of art! Hugs to little one :)

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  22. This look cute and good! Wishing you a blessed Christmas and Happy Holidays!

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  23. Beautiful cookies and your little one decorated it perfectly! yesterday it was cookie making day for me too :)....
    Whishing you a Merry Christmas!

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  24. Dear Namitha and Sunitha
    Congrats!!! for the best 30 awards...
    Someday I am going to get out off kitchen and spend more tine at oven...I like it...cant bake anymore...but line up at pastry shop to have my share ...( while walking to exercise)
    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. WIll be off blog for a while

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  25. Hi namitha,

    It's my first time here. I must say you have lovely blog. Kudos to you for creating such a wonderful space. Th cookies look tooo yum!!

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  26. So cute and lovely cookies.. amazing job :)

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  27. the cookies look so cute and amazing and tempting too.

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  28. teddys ellam superb ayittundu looks yummyyyy

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  29. teddys ellam superb ayittundu looks yummyyyy

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  30. Cute and yummy cookies..adipoli aayitundu, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

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  31. Love those cute men out there. Would like to have a bite :)

    Lite Bite

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  32. beautiful gingerbread cookies happy holidays

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  33. Wonderful cookies gulmohar,hope u having a great time in colorado...happpy hols

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  34. thats the best part of festive season...kids get involved and we also have so much fun. lovely cookies. very festive and colourful.

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  35. Oh cute little Gingerbread cookies, so beautiful to eat ...Merry Christmas :)

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  36. Deliziosi semplicemente deliziosi, un abbraccio ciao e felici feste di Natale e per un Anno Nuovo ricco di tante cose deliziose, ciao

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  37. These gingerbread cookies look so pretty and festive!
    Merry Christmas!
    Angie

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  38. Adipoli cookies Nami..
    Ur friends are so lucky to get cookies from you.Giving home made cookies to friends would have an great idea,never thought about that.Maybe next year :)

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  39. Perfectly made ginger bread cookies!!..WISH U AND FAMILY A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS

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