Classic Gingerbread Cutouts

Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 10 min
Servings: 36
Yield: 36 servings

Description

These delicious gingerbread cut out cookies are naturally low-fat and are best topped with royal icing. These cookies are a perfect holiday treat!

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup molasses
2 eggs
4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 pound confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
3 egg whites

Directions

1 Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2 In a large bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in molasses and eggs.
3 Combine 1 1/2 cups of the flour, baking soda, salt, allspice, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger; beat into molasses mixture. Gradually stir in remaining flour by hand to form a stiff dough.
4 Divide dough into 2 pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8-inch thickness.
5 Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters. Place cookies 1-inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
6 Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
7 In a medium bowl, sift together confectioners' sugar and cream of tartar. Blend in egg whites.
8 Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat for about 5 minutes, or until mixture is thick and stiff. Keep covered with a moist cloth until ready to frost cookies.
9 Decorate cooled cookies and enjoy!