Spicy Gingerbread Cookies

I normally only make gingerbread decorations.  But, this year one of the sons requested some to eat.  I found this gingerbread recipe on a healthy website. This recipe was from: Prevention's The Healthy Cook.  

Ingredients:

6 TBSP vegetable shortening or butter

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 TBSP ground cinnamon

2 TSP ground ginger

1 1/2 TSP ground cloves

1 TSP baking soda

2 TBSP molasses

1/3 cup water

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Coat your baking sheets with a non-stick spray or line with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the shortening or butter and brown sugar.
3. In another large bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and baking soda.  Add to the flour mixture and stir until well-blended.
4. In a cup, stir the molasses into 2 tablespoons of water.  Add to the dough and mix well.  Add more water, if necessary,  to form a stiff dough.
5. Divide the dough into four equal-size pieces.  Roll each piece out to 1/8" thickness.  Using cookie cutters or a sharp kinfe, cut out cookies and place them onto a prepared baking sheets, leaving 1" between cookies.
6. Bake for 7-10 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly browned.

 Optional Icing:  To decorate with powdered sugar icing, combine 2 TBSP milk, 3 cups of confectioner's sugar and 1 TSP vanilla.  Add more milk if necessary to make a smooth, thick icing.  Drizzle or pipe over the cookies.
Serves: 60

Enjoy!

Sherry

I will link this to: 

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

This Chick Cooked at This Chick Cooks
Friday Food at Mom Trends

Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum 
Also, joining a new party with Elna Wednesday Show Off  at Elna-Sudden. 
And, What's It Wednesday  over at Ivy and Elephants 

Check these great blogs out!