Best Soft Gingerbread Cookies Plus Gb House Tips Recipes

MOM'S BEST SOFT GINGERBREAD COOKIES (NEW! GB HOUSE DIRECTIONS!)

Steps:

• Place cloves in hot water; set aside.
• Cream shortening and sugar.
• Add egg and beat.
• Add molasses, beat.
• Remove cloves from water, discard cloves.
• Add clove water, beat. *Dough will look "curdled".
• Add rest of ingredients, except the last 4 cups flour, and beat. Gradually beat in last 4 cups flour.
• Chill dough.
• Roll out to 1/2" thick or slightly less.
• Cut into shapes.
• Decorate with raisins if desired.
• Place carefully on ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake at 375° for 8-10 minutes. Do not over bake.
• *GB House directions:.
• Make dough the same as above, but roll dough out thin, 1/4" at most.
• Bake in 325 oven for about 20 minutes.
• Remove to racks to cool, and let harden/dry out a bit overnight for sturdiness if making large pieces.
• *Doors and windows need to be cut out PRIOR to baking. Fill any with crushed hard candy before baking, too. And pieces filled with hard candy baked the best on foil. Non candy-filled pieces were baked on parchment paper.

BEST SOFT GINGERBREAD COOKIES (PLUS GB HOUSE TIPS)

Steps:

• 1. Place cloves in hot water; set aside. Cream shortening and sugar. Add egg and beat. Add molasses, beat. Remove cloves from water, discard cloves. Add clove water, beat. *Dough will look "curdled". Add rest of ingredients, except the last 4 cups flour, and beat. Gradually beat in last 4 cups flour. Chill dough. Roll out to 1/2" thick or slightly less. (1/4" if you like your cookies crispy.) Cut into shapes. Decorate with raisins if desired. Place carefully onto ungreased cookies sheet. Bake at 375° for 8-10 minutes. Do not over bake. *GB House directions: Make dough the same as above, but roll dough out thin, 1/4" at most. Bake in 325 oven for about 20 minutes. Remove to racks to cool, and let harden/dry out a bit overnight for sturdiness if making large pieces. *Doors and windows need to be cut out PRIOR to baking. Fill any with crushed hard candy before baking, too. And pieces filled with hard candy baked the best on foil. Non candy-filled pieces were baked on parchment paper. These directions are for houses that are not meant to be eaten. If making one to be eaten, just roll the dough the same as per the cookie directions. (My house above was a "look at" house! LOL!) We donated it to the children's wing at our local public library for the kids to play with and enjoy! They LOVED it! :D Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!