Cookie Blitz Day Four Wrap-Up

 

Gingerbread Man 

When school life was normal for kindergarteners making a gingerbread man was one of their most favorite December activities. It certainly was mine in kindergarten with Miss Ann, my teacher. One week before the holiday break the gingerbread man was the focus of a variety of activities in my daughter's kindergarten classroom.

This little guy on the baking sheet was made with two boxes of gingerbread mix.

The class had such a good time making one large gingerbread man and decorating it with all sorts of candies, cereals and raisins. The cooks baked it in the kitchen and the gingerbread man made an appearance later in the day as an afternoon snack.

There are many versions of the Gingerbread Man story but my all time favorite one is "The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School."
It's a fresh and funny twist on the original story. When a class leaves for recess, their just-baked Gingerbread Man is left behind. But he's a smart cookie and heads out to find them. He'll run, slide, skip, and (after a mishap with a soccer ball) limp as fast as he can because: "I can catch them! I'm their Gingerbread Man!"
With help from the gym teacher, the nurse, the art teacher and even the principal, a deliciously sweet ending is served up for both the Gingerbread Man and the children who made him. Suggested age group 4-7.

The next best thing to enjoying a crunchy Gingerbread Cookie is a Gingerbread Snowball Crinkle Cookie.

Cook's Notes: All the classic gingerbread flavors are found in this soft and spicy cookie rolled in powdered sugar. What's not to like! 
My husband who has cheerfully devoured samples of each of the posted cookies this week seemed disappointed in this recipe. LOL- he heard the word gingerbread and expected the "real" deal his own crispy cookie man. I told him this was the next best thing. 

Recipe makes 28 cookies and was adapted from twosisterscrafting.com

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup softened butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1/3 cup molasses (mild flavor)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ginger
• 2 teaspoons Saigon cinnamon or 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2-1/2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
• Powdered sugar

Directions:

• Cream butter and sugar. Add in egg, molasses and vanilla. Mix well until fluffy.
• In another bowl whisk together, flour, spices, salt and baking soda. 
• Add flour mixture to butter mixture and mix well. 
• Refrigerate dough one hour for easier handling. 
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. 
• Place 1-1/2 cups powdered sugar in a bowl.
• Roll dough into 2 inch balls and reroll in powdered sugar.

• Bake for 9-10 minutes. Let sit on baking sheet 3-4 minutes and transfer over to a cooling rack.  

A Shout Out to my friend Julie-she took up her own personal cookie baking challenge. She made these tempting cookie trays (photo below) and shared with neighbors. I like how she included one of my personal favorites Peanut Butter Blossoms.

Way to go Julie! Looks delicious.   

UP NEXT-Some healthy choices for the holiday weeks ahead-Let's begin with a festive easy to assemble veggie tray. If wondering the star was made from yellow pepper strips.