Gingerbread Man Cookies

If anyone is looking for a last minute gingerbread man recipe this one is really good. I tried this recipe two ways. The recipe with the original or regular molasses and light brown sugar I liked better. I just thought it had a better taste. If you like the cookies with a stronger molasses flavor then use black strap molasses and dark brown sugar, which also make the cookies slightly darker but not much like I thought. I will write the recipe with both choices. Make sure you follow the recipe as far as chilling the dough for 3 hours because it does make a difference.

INGREDIENTS
2/3 cup canola oil
14 cup original molasses OR blackstrap molasses
1 cup light brown sugar OR dark brown sugar
2 eggs
3 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

royal icing

DIRECTIONS
Whisk together the flour, spices, soda and salt. Set aside.

Using a mixer, mix the oil, molasses and brown sugar until combined.

Slowly mix in the flour mixture until well combined.  Add the eggs one at a time.

The dough will be a little sticky. Dump dough out onto a floured surface and, work in a little more flour with your hands until the dough is not sticky.

Form dough into somewhat of a disc and wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

On a lightly floured surface and rolling pin, roll out dough to 1/4 inch thick and cut out. Lay on parchment covered cookie sheet.

Bake for 8 minutes.

Let cool for a few minutes before removing onto a cooling rack.

Makes around 12 men depending on size of cookie cutter.

ICING
I made my royal icing with Americolor Meringue Powder which has the recipe on the container.

Decorate as desired.