Brer Rabbit Gingerbread Cookies Food

THE MOST WONDERFUL GINGERBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves until well blended.
• In a large bowl (KitchenAid's great for this) beat butter, brown sugar, and egg on medium speed until well blended.
• Add molasses, vanilla, and lemon zest and continue to mix until well blended.
• Gradually stir in dry ingredients until blended and smooth.
• Divide dough in half and wrap each half in plastic and let stand at room temperature for at least 2 hours or up to 8 hours.
• Preheat oven to 375 deg. Prepare baking sheets by lining with parchment paper.
• (Dough can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, but in this case it should be refrigerated. Return to room temp before using.) Preheat oven to 375°.
• Grease or line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
• Place 1 portion of the dough on a lightly floured surface.
• Sprinkle flour over dough and rolling pin.
• Roll dough to a scant 1/4-inch thick.
• Use additional flour to avoid sticking.
• Cut out cookies with desired cutter-- the ginger bread man is our favorite of course.
• Space cookies 1 1/2-inches apart.
• Bake 1 sheet at a time for 7-10 minutes (the lower time will give you softer cookies-- very good!).
• Remove cookie sheet from oven and allow the cookies to stand until the cookies are firm enough to move to a wire rack.
• After cookies are cool you may decorate them any way you like.
• I usually brush them with a powdered sugar glaze when I am in a hurry, but they look wonderful decorated with Royal icing.

BRER RABBIT'S GINGERBREAD WAFFLES

Steps:

• heat to boiling point but dont boil molasses and butter.
• add baking soda.
• add sour milk.
• sifted dry ingredients.
• bake in hot waffle iron.
• serve in 1/4's with whipped cream in between.

BRER RABBIT GINGERBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• In 3-quart saucepan over medium heat, heat molasses, margarine and brown sugar until mixture boils, stirring occasionally to blend well. Remove from heat; cool. In large bowl, combine flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and nutmeg. Blend egg into molasses mixture. With spoon, stir molasses mixture into flour mixture until smooth. Wrap dough in plastic wrap; chill 1 hour. Divide dough in half. On floured surface, roll half of dough to 1/8 to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut with floured 5x3 inch gingerbread man cutter. Carefully lift with metal spatula onto non-stick cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 14 minutes or until lightly browned around edges. Remove from sheet; cool on wire rack. Decorate as desired with icing, raisins and candies. Repeat with remaining dough and trimmings. Store in tightly covered container for up to 2 weeks.