Prehistoric Gingerdead Cookies
I like a good cookie. They are even better when they're adorable.
On my recent trip to Canada, I picked up this cookie stamping set made by Fred, one of my favorite retailers. You can get these all over the place or on Amazon, but I've never taken the plunge and bought them.
Here's how it went down.
You need to use a cookie recipe that has no leavening agents in it. None. Zero. That means yeast, self-rising flour, baking soda, baking powder, whatever. Find some cookie recipe that eliminates all of those.
We used an old German gingerbread recipe that we've had for forever. It was perfect.
Recipe:
3 1/4 cups flour*
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup (packed) brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup blackstrap molasses
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup (packed) brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup blackstrap molasses
*It's okay to use a gluten-free blend, but results may vary and watch out for leavening agents.
Next is the rolling out. If you're going to be doing the stamping, 1/4 of an inch is the perfect thickness. The best way to do this is to roll the dough out on parchment paper to the desired thickness, then stick it in the fridge to chill for fifteen minutes or so. The chilling is important.
Cutting is easy enough, but these cutters stick quite a bit, so I recommend flouring the cutter before you press it down. Also, leave the cutter in place when you do the stamping. This will make your life easier. We did it both ways and this is just a better choice. Be careful to press deep enough to leave a good, solid imprint, but so deep as to poke through the other side.
Bake at 350o F for 7-10 minutes.
When those are done, let cool completely. Resist the temptation to eat now.
Okay. Filling in the bones. You need some icing. Royal icing is the best for this, and the white contrasts with the brown of the cookie really well (realistic-ish).
Icing:
1/4 cup warm water
2 cups (1/2 pound) confectioners' sugar
Whip together all of these things with a handmixer or a kitchenaid or a whisk if you have forearms of steel. Add the sugar a little at a time for best results.
After it's all whipped together, you're ready to pipe the “bones”. If you don't have a piping bag, a ziploc bag with the corner snipped off works. Go slow and pay attention to the details.
And there you have it. These things look cool, and they're a big hit with everyone from preschoolers to the elderly. Because who doesn't like dinosaurs?
