Gingerbread Village | Cookie Recipes

Gingerbread Village | Cookie Recipes

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup shortening
3/4 cup dark molasses
1/3 cup cold water
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
Gingerbread Frosting -- (recipe follows)
Assorted candies and nuts
GINGERBREAD FROSTING
2 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup shortening
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
5 teaspoons milk (5 to 6 teaspoons)
Heat oven to 350º. Grease square pan, 9 × 9 × 2 inches, and jelly
roll
pan, 15 1/2 × 10 1/2 × 1 inch. Beat brown sugar, shortening and
molasses in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix
with spoon. Stir in water. Stir in remaining ingredients except Frosting
and assorted candies.
Press one third of dough into square pan. Press remaining dough into
jelly roll pan. Bake 1 pan at a time about 15 minutes or until no
indentation remains when touched in center. Cool 5 minutes. Invert
onto large cutting surface. Immediately cut jelly roll into fourths and
then into buildings as shown below. Cut square into braces as shown.
Cool completely.
Cover piece of cardboard, about 28 × 10 inches, with aluminum foil.
Decorate front of buildings as desired with Frosting and assorted
candies and nuts. Use frosting to attach supports to backs of buildings,
buildings to cardboard and sidewalk to cardboard. Complete by
decorating as desired.
GINGERBREAD FROSTING:
Mix all ingredients until smooth and spreadable.