Gingerbread Teddy Bears Food

GINGERBREAD TEDDY BEARS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine butter, brown sugar and molasses. Cook over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Pour into a large bowl; let stand 10 minutes. Stir in egg and vanilla. Combine flour, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda and cloves; gradually add to butter mixture and mix well. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight., Preheat oven to 350°. Shape dough into ten 2-in. balls, ten 1-in. balls, forty 1/2-in. balls and twenty 3/8-in.balls. Place the 2-in. balls on 3 foil-lined baking sheets for the body of 8 bears; flatten to 1/2-in. thickness. Position 1-in. balls for heads; flatten to 1/2-in. thickness. Attach four 1/2-in. balls to each bear for arms and legs. Attach two 3/8-in. balls for ears. Add chocolate chips for eyes and buttons. , Bake 10-12 minutes or until set. Cool 10 minutes before carefully removing to wire racks to cool completely. With frosting, pipe ears, muzzle and paws; add sprinkles for fingers, toes and nose.

GINGERBREAD TEDDIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine 2-1/4 cups flour, brown sugar, shortening, molasses, eggs, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Beat on high speed until combined. Beat in remaining flour. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours., Shape dough into 12 balls, 1-3/4 in. each; 12 balls, 1-1/4 in. each; 72 balls, 1/2 in. each; and 60 balls, 3/8 in. each. Place the 1-3/4-in. balls on three foil-lined baking sheets for the body of 12 bears; flatten to 1/2-in. thickness., Attach six 1/2-in. balls to each bear for arms, legs and ears. Attach four 3/8-in. balls for paws. Attach one 3/8-in. ball for nose. Add chocolate chips for eyes and belly buttons. , Make three cuts halfway through the dough on the end of each paw; make an indentation in each ear with a wooden spoon handle., Bake at 350° for 12-16 minutes or until set. Cool for 10 minutes before carefully removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely (cookies will be fragile while warm).

MIMI'S GINGERBREAD MEN

Steps:

• Cream shortening and sugar till light and fluffy.
• Stir in egg, molasses and vinegar; beat well.
• Add dry ingredients.
• Chill thoroughly; about 3 hours.
• On lightly floured surface, roll to 1/4" thick (no thinner) and cut with cutter.
• Place on lightly greased sheet.
• Add raisins or currants for eyes,nose, and buttons.
• Bake 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes, depending on size of the men.
• Cool and remove.
• NOTE: If you use a small to medium cutter, you will get a lot of little guys; but if the cutter is large it will be about 1 1/2 dozen (approximately)--I like to use the small to medium because you get more to give away at Christmas.