Gingerbread Cutouts

This easy to make recipe from the Better Homes & Gardens New Cook Book comes together easily, and is not at all a pain when rolling out. These cookies should be paired with a Powdered Sugar Icing, but back when I made these, I didn't have much time to decorate, so I just left them without the icing. They don't have a strong gingerbread taste, but if you wanted to make them have a strong taste, you could easily increase the amount of ground ginger in the recipe.

Gingerbread Cutouts
*makes about 36 cookies*

Ingredients:
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg
1 tbsp vinegar
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 recipe Powdered Sugar Icing
Decorative candies
Colored sugars

Directions:
1) In a mixing bowl beat shortening with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar, baking powder, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, and cloves. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in molasses, egg, and vinegar until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in remaining flour. Divide dough in half. Cover and chill about 3 hours or until easy to handle.
2) Preheat oven to 375F. Grease a cookie sheet; set aside. On a lightly floured surface, roll half of the dough at a time until 1/8 inch thick. Using 2 1/2-inch cookie cutters, cut into desired shapes. Place 1 inch apart on prepared cookie sheet.
3) Bake for 5 to 6 minutes or until edges are light brown. Cool on cookie sheet 1 minute. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool. If desired, decorate cookies with Powdered Sugar Icing. If desired, before icing dries, sprinkle with decorative candies and colored sugars.

Powdered Sugar Icing: In a small bowl combine 1 cup powdered sugar, 1/4 tsp vanilla, and 1 tbsp whole milk. Stir in additional milk, 1 tsp at a time, until icing reaches drizzling consistency.

If you want to print this recipe or the variation out, go here to their link on the Better Homes & Gardens site.