Gingerbread Skeletons

Name: Gingerbread Skeletons
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: about 2 dozen
Ingredients: 2/3 cup shortening; 1/2 cup sugar; 1/2 cup molasses; 1 large egg, room temperature; 3 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon each ground cinnamon, ginger and cloves; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg; Confectioners' sugar icing

Total Time Prep: 15 min. + chilling Bake: 10 min./batch

Yield about 2 dozen

Test Kitchen Approved

Any small gingerbread boy cookie cutter can take on new "life" with these classic cookies. Give him some cat friends, too. The more the merrier! —Dore' Merrick Grabski, Utica, New York

Ingredients

2/3 cup shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 large egg, room temperature
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon each ground cinnamon, ginger and cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Confectioners' sugar icing

Directions

In a bowl, cream shortening and sugar. Add molasses and egg; mix well. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, salt and nutmeg; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Divide dough in half. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 350°. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each portion of dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 2-in. cookie cutter. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets.
Bake 9 minutes or until edges are firm. Remove to wire racks to cool. Decorate with icing to resemble bones of skeletons, mummy wrappings, or as desired.

Nutrition Facts

1 cookie: 145 calories, 6g fat (1g saturated fat), 8mg cholesterol, 108mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein.

Any small gingerbread boy cookie cutter can take on new "life" with these classic cookies. Give him some cat friends, too. The more the merrier! —Dore' Merrick Grabski, Utica, New York

Recipe Creator