Gingerbread Man Mug Mates Recipes

GINGERBREAD MEN

Steps:

• Sift the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and allspice into a medium bowl; set aside. Melt the butter and shortening in a medium saucepan; remove from the heat and stir in the brown sugar and molasses. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool slightly.
• Add the egg to the butter mixture; beat with a mixer on medium speed until incorporated. Reduce the mixer speed to low; beat in the flour mixture in two additions until just combined. Divide the dough in half; wrap each half in plastic wrap and pat into 1/2-inch-thick disks. Refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours.
• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Working with 1 piece of dough at a time, roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thick on a lightly floured surface, dusting with flour as needed. Cut out gingerbread men with a 3 1/2- to 5-inch cookie cutter and arrange 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Brush off the excess flour and refrigerate the cutouts 15 minutes.
• Bake the cookies until golden around the edges, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool 3 to 5 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to racks to cool completely. Decorate with royal icing and let harden at room temperature, about 1 hour.

COCOA GINGERBREAD MEN

Steps:

• Whisk the flour, 1/2 cup cocoa powder, the ginger, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the butter, molasses and brown sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until light in color, about 3 minutes. Add the egg and beat until combined. Reduce the mixer speed to low; gradually add the flour mixture, beating until just combined. Divide the dough between 2 sheets of plastic wrap; shape into disks. Wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.
• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Working with 1 disk at a time, roll out the dough on a floured surface until about 1/4 inch thick. Cut out shapes with 3-inch cookie cutters; arrange 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Reroll the scraps once and cut out more cookies. Refrigerate the cookies until firm, about 15 minutes.
• Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the cookies are set, about 12 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to racks to cool completely.
• Make the glaze: Whisk the confectioners' sugar, the remaining 1 tablespoon cocoa powder and the orange juice in a bowl. Transfer to a resealable plastic bag and snip a small corner; pipe onto the cookies. Let set, 1 hour.