Holiday Gingerbread Food

HOLIDAY GINGERBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Combine butter, sugar, and molasses together in a standing mixer with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk together the remaining dry ingredients in a separate bowl.
• Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture in increments, and continue to beat until thoroughly mixed together.
• Pour the dough out onto the countertop and divide into 4 pieces. Press each piece into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator and chill for 1 to 2 hours, or up to 3 days.
• Adjust the racks to the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line sheet trays with parchment paper.
• Spread 2 large pieces of parchment paper out and very lightly flour them. Place a disk of dough between the parchment sheets and roll out to 1/4-inch thickness. Repeat with the remaining disks of dough. Rework all scraps into balls and re-chill before reusing. Repeat with all the dough.
• Cut out cookies and place on the parchment-lined sheet trays with an offset spatula, leaving 1-inch between each cookie. Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes. Cool on the sheet tray for 5 minutes, and then transfer to a cooling rack to continue cooling to room temperature before decorating the cookies with Royal Icing.
• Add ingredients to a large bowl. Beat, using a hand mixer, until glossy and stiff, about 5 to 6 minutes. Place in icing bags with fine tips to decorate cookies.

HOLIDAY GINGERBREAD CUPCAKES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat the sugar, oil, egg whites and egg until well blended. Add applesauce and molasses; mix well. In a small bowl, combine the flours, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, allspice and salt; gradually beat into applesauce mixture until blended., Fill paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350° for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., Just before serving, top each cupcake with 1 tablespoon whipped topping.

HOLIDAY GINGERBREAD MUFFINS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Grease 12 muffin cup/tins.
• In medium bowl, beat the egg, applesauce, oil, molasses and 1/2 cup sugar.
• Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl and add to first mixture.
• Stir in the water, mixing well.
• Fill the muffin cups two-thirds full.
• Lightly sprinkle with sugar.
• Bake at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes or until done.

HOLIDAY GINGERBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9-inch loaf pan or a square baking pan.
• Stir flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt together in a bowl.
• Beat sugar and butter in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Dissolve baking soda into applesauce and mix into the creamed butter. Stir in 1 teaspoon orange extract. Add flour mixture and mix batter until smooth. Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out just slightly sticky, 40 to 50 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely on wire rack, about 1 hour.
• Beat cream cheese in a bowl with the electric blender until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla extract and 1/2 teaspoon orange extract. Add confectioners' sugar gradually and beat until well combined. Spread frosting onto cooled cake.