Part of our Christmas in July extravangazek is sharing a favorite Christmas Cookie Recipe! This totally is my favorite! This recipe has been in our family for almost 40 years and you can’t beat it! 

Gingerbread Cookies

1/4 cup butter, soft

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup molasses

1/3 cup water

3 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cloves

1 rounded teaspoon cinnamon

2 teaspoons ginger

1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and salt.  Whisk together.  Set aside.

In a stand mixer, beat butter, brown sugar and molasses.  Add the water and beat, scraping the sides. (mixture will look weird – don’t freak out!)

Slowly add the dry ingredients.  Mix until well combined.  (If it happens to be crumbly or seem dry, add a tablespoon of water)

Roll out dough about 1/4″ thick on a floured surface.  Cut desired shapes with cookie cutters.

Place on parchment lined baking sheets, or ungreased baking sheets and bake for 8 minutes.

Double the recipe if you want them to last more than a day!!

Store in air-tight container.

You can use royal icing to decorate or dip in chocolate.  We like to use the Ghiradelli dipping wafers.