Gingerbread Cookies

July 28, 2009.   5 Comments.   Categories Cookies from Home.  

Gingerbread Cookies

Recipe by www.tasteofhome.com

Today a very nice reader asked me for recipe suggestions for cookies she could send to her son in Iraq.  It’s a difficult journey for perishable items with an approximate two week shipping time and temperatures as high as 130 degrees.  I wanted to help her so I did some research and found this recipe online.  It was part of a heart-warming story about a mom’s quest to send cookies to soldiers overseas.  She was nick-named… “the Cookie Mom”  (story here)

This recipe was included in that story.  She found that cookies with molasses survived the trek.  I will continue to post other recipes to this section as I find them in hopes that this becomes a nice resource for military families wanting to ship cookies to their loved ones.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter, cubed
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 2 teaspoons white vinegar
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:
In a saucepan, combine the butter, sugar, molasses and vinegar; bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat; cool to lukewarm. Stir in egg.
Combine the flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon and salt; stir into molasses mixture to form a soft dough.
Divide dough into thirds. Shape each portion into a disk; wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until easy to handle.
On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 3-in. gingerbread boy cookie cutter.
Place on greased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 7-9 minutes or until edges are firm. Remove to wire racks. Yield: 3-4 dozen.

Packaging Tips (also from www.tasteofhome.com)

• Drop, refrigerator and sandwich cookies are fairly sturdy and less likely to break when shipping.
• Drop cookies should be bundled back-to-back in packages of two.
• Some refrigerator cookies can be stacked in threes and then tied with ribbon to make them look extra-special.
• Strong-flavored cookies, such as gingerbread cookies, should be kept separate from milder ones.
• Once your cookies are neatly bundled in plastic wrap, place them in disposable plastic containers lined with crumpled wax paper. Colorful paper mache boxes also work nicely.
• Place your cookie containers in a second larger box that is cushioned by crumpled wax paper or bubble wrap.
• A friendly letter or greeting is always appreciated. Be sure to include one with your care package.

For more information on ways you can help support our troops, go to Washington Operation Thank You. To find a soldier in need of cookies, visit www.anysoldier.com.