Quick Gingerbread Cookies!

...a.k.a. Bad Movie Night Christmas in July Gingerbread Men Cookies recipe
(as discussed here).

Ingredients:

1 and 1/2 cups + 2 Tablespoons whole wheat pastry flour
3/8 teaspoon baking soda
6 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
<1/2 Tablespoon ginger
<1/2 Tablespoon cinnamon
<1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses

Directions:

1.) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, sift the whole wheat pastry flour, baking soda, and spices.

2.) In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugar, eggs, and molasses with an electric mixer or a fork beating very fast until the butter has disappeared into the mix and the ingredients are well combined.

3.) Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture in several batches, pouring from the small bowl into the larger bowl, stirring, and pouring more, and stirring again after each addition until the flour mixture has been thoroughly incorporated.

4.) Using your hands, shape the dough into a small mound in the large bowl and place in the freezer for about 13-15 minutes (14 worked well for me). Remove from freezer, place between two sheets of parchment paper, and flatten with a rolling pin to about 1/4- to 1/8-inch thick. Cut into shapes with your favorite cookie cutters.

5.) Place cookies on an ungreased baking sheet and bake for 7-8 minutes or until edges are just crispy. Remove from oven, cool about a minute, and remove to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, can be eaten plain or decorated with icing of your choice.

These cookies have a great ginger, clove, and molasses flavor without being too overwhelmingly sweet. If you miss that kick of sugar in your cookies, definitely go with the icing. Since my brother and his friend aren't lactose intolerant like me, I threw together a quick frosting made from powdered sugar mixed with half-and-half (not measured), stirred until thick enough to spread like frosting. If you prefer to "drizzle," use more half-and-half. To "coat," use more sugar. Wal-Mart decorating gel also works....