20100526

Gingerbread men

3 cups plain flour
large pinch salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
125g unsalted butter
1/2 cup caster sugar
1 egg
2/3 cup molasses
2 cups icing sugar
2 eggwhites
juice of 1 lemon
food colouring

1. Preheat over to 180C. Sift flour, salt, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg and set aside.
2. Put butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat on medium speed for 3 mins or until mixture is light and creamy. Add the egg and molasses and continue beating for 2 mins.
3. Reduce mixer speed to low and add flour mixture. Mix for 30 secs until mixture just comes together. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth.
4. Roll out dough to 3mm thick, then cut out shapes. Put on trays and cook for 8-12 minutes until slightly firm to the touch. Allow to cool on a wire rack.
5. Put icing sugar, eggwhites and juice in the bowl of an electric mixer. Whisk on high speed for 3 mins until light and creamy. Divide icing in 2-3 batches. Add colouring. Pipe icing on gingerbread men to decorate.

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