2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons milk
Assorted decorations
Preparation Instructions:
In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, butter, molasses, egg, cinnamon, baking powder, ginger, cloves, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg. With a mixer at medium speed, beat until well mixed. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin, roll dough 1/8 inch thick. Use cookie cutters to create desired ornament shapes, and place on ungreased cookie sheets about 1/2 inch apart. Using a skewer or the tip of a knife, make a hole in the top of each cookie. Reroll trimmings and cut. Bake 8 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges. With a spatula, transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
Combine confectioners' sugar with just enough milk to make a smooth icing. Spoon into a pastry bag fitted with a writing tip, or use a plastic bag and snip the tip from one corner to make a small hole. Pipe designs on cookies and decorate as desired. Set aside to dry completely. Makes 2 dozen cookies.