Politically correct recipe: Gingerbread people

"Care to have a piece of gingerbread man? Oh, no. I mean gingerbread person."

Gingerbread men being re-named to gingerbread people?

The gingerbread man's gender has come under threat from political correctness. People these days are trying hard to be politically correct. I guess the intention is to not offence anyone. For these yummy goodies, I doubt most people could care either way whether they are gingerbread people, gingerbread men, ginger women, gingerbread person, as long as THEY taste good.

Is gingerbread man name changed really important? Neh!

I don't usually like gingerbread man, but I gotta tell you, I fell in love with this man. They are soft and wonderfully fragrant with the flavors of molasses, ground ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. I just cannot resist, they are yummy…

Gingerbread men cookies

Ingredients:

2 1/2 c all purpose flour, spooned and leveled
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp coarse salt
1 c unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 c granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/4 unsulphured molasses

Steps:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, ground ginger, ground cloves, cinnamon and salt.
2. In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), with the paddle attachment, beat butter and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add egg and molasses and beat to combine, scraping down bowl as needed. 3. With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture and beat until incorporated. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, 1 hour (or up to 3 days).
4. Preheat oven to 350F.
5. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to a 1/4 inch thickness. Cut the dough with gingerbread cutter. 
6. Arrange cut out dough 1 inch apart, on two parchment-lined baking sheets.
7. Bake for about 10 to 12 minutes depending on the size of the cookies. Let cool completely on wire racks.

Store cookies in airtight containers, up to 1 week.

There are many ways to decorate gingerbread. Kids like colored royal icing. For royal icing recipe:

2 tbsp meringue powder

1 lb powered icing sugar

5-7 tbsp water

In the bowl of your electric mixer, beat the icing sugar and meringue powder until combined. Add the water slowly and beat on medium to high speed until very golssy and stiff peak, for 7 minutes.

To cover or 'flood' the entire surface of the cookie, the proper consistency is when you lift the beater, the ribbon of icing that falls back into the bowl remains on the surface for a few seconds before disappearing.

Cover the icing with plastic wrap when not in use. Royal icing get harden when exposed to air.

Note: If the icing is too running, add more icing sugar. Add more water if the icing is too stiff.

Make about 3 cups.