Gingerbread Bears
What's even cuter than a gingerbread man? Gingerbread Bears! This gingerbread men recipe creates gingerbears. It's a classic Christmas cookie that is both delicious and festive. You can get creative when it comes to decorating, but the suspenders and bow tie that are in the author's photo are adorable if you want to copy her. She used royal icing, colored sugar, and little candies. You're sure to have fun making and decorating these gingerbread bears with your family.
Yields3 Dozen Bears
Preparation Time35 min
Chilling Time2 hr
Cooking Time10 min
Cooking MethodOven
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups unsifted all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 3/4 cup light molasses
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
- Decorations as desired
Instructions
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Measure 3 1/2 cups flour; sift together with spices, baking soda and salt; set aside. Beat butter with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth. Add sugar and mix on high speed until light and fluffy, 2 minutes. Add egg and mix well. Stop the mixer and add molasses and lemon rind. Mix on low speed to combine. Stir in dry ingredients with a wooden spoon.
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Divide dough into four parts. Wrap each one separately in plastic wrap and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.
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Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease baking sheets.
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Remove one piece of dough from the refrigerator at a time. Roll the well-chilled dough on a floured board or between sheets of waxed paper to a 1/8-inch thickness. Cut out with cookie cutters and carefully transfer to prepared baking sheets, leaving 1-inch between each cookie
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Bake just until the cookies are lightly browned and set, 7 to 10 minutes. Do not overbake. Transfer from baking sheets to a wire rack and cool completely before decorating. Decorate as desired. Store in airtight containers.
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