Auntie's Soft Gingerbread Men

My Aunt had the best recipe for gingerbread cookies - the soft yummy ones. I have fond memories of making little gingerbread men at her house after Thanksgiving and then we would wrap them up in plastic - 25 all in a row, head to toe, with a ribbon tied in between each one - and then I would take it back to my dorm with me and it became my tasty little Christmas advent calendar. These cookies tasted just as good at the end of December as at the beginning. My kids are dying to add a little royal icing to my festive basket full of little men. Maybe we'll give that a try this afternoon - but I have to say, you don't have to add a thing to these to make them taste great. (although I couldn't resist some raisin buttons) Enjoy!



Soft Gingerbread Men

1 C shortening
1 C sugar
1 egg
1 C molasses
2 Tbsp. white vinegar
5 C flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. cloves

Cream together the shortening and sugar. Beat in the rest of the wet ingredients. Blend in the dry ingredients. Chill at least 3 hours. Roll the dough out to 3/4" thick on a lightly floured surface. Cut with a cookie cutter. Bake for 6-7 miniutes.

Note: my gingerbread men were kind of medium sized and I got at least 5 dozen from one batch of dough.