Gingerbread Cookies !

Theses are amazing Christmas, Thanksgiving, and just cold weather cookies. They also make great party activities, decorating and eating them. They are pretty simple, but yummy. Make um' thick and eat um' warm! I adapted the recipe a little, just to attempt a more healthy version. But, you can undo what I did if you want.

• Ready In: 4 hrs 10 mins
• Serves: 48
• Yields: 48 cookies

Ingredients

• 3 1⁄2 cups flour
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons ginger
• 2  teaspoons cinnamon
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 cup honey (or half a cup of white sugar)
• 2  tablespoons butter, plus
• 2  tablespoons applesauce (or a stick of butter)
• 1  egg
• 1  cup molasses
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons warm water
•  frosting (for decorating)
•  mini chocolate chip (for decorating)
•  candy (for decorating)

Directions

1. Pre-heat over to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl cream butter, sauce, egg, sugar/honey, and WARMED molasses.
3. Dissolve baking soda in the warm water and add to mixture.
4. Beat until smooth.
5. Mix in flour, spice, and salt until well blended.
6. Chill for 3-4 hours.
7. It rolls out pretty well, but you'll probably need flour! I always use a pretty good amount on my counter and rolling pin.
8. Cut cookies into desired shapes and bake for 10-12 minutes.
9. Depending on how you like your cookies, you'll need to watch the time and the thickness.
10. * For adorable Christmas ornaments, I make thin cookies and bake them till they are pretty hard and crispy. Then, I put an ornament hook on them and they make great ornaments!*.