Grammy's Gingerbread Cookies

Ingredients:
・1 cup shortening (I use Crisco) (Substitute with Spectrum shortening for a healthier option)
・1 cup of sugar
・2 cups light molasses
・2 large eggs, beaten (substitute with 2 flax eggs to make vegan)
・2 tsp baking soda
・3 tsp ginger
・3 tsp cinnamon
・7 cups flour (substitute with Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 gluten-free flour to make this gluten-free *) 
・1/2 tsp salt

 Heat in a saucepan on medium heat: shortening, sugar and molasses until shortening is melted. Stir constantly. Remove from heat and let cool (shortening should still be liquid just not hot). When cool, add eggs and mix well. In a separate bowl sift flour with soda, spices, and salt. Mix flour into wet ingredients. The dough will be soft and a little sticky. Drop dough onto tin foil, seal and chill well - at least 2 hours. 

 "Flour Mixture" I use this mixture when rolling out the cookies to dust the surface so the dough doesn't stick and to dip cookie cutters in so dough releases easily - mix 3 cups flour, 1 tsp soda, 1 1/2 tsp ginger, 1 1/2 tsp of cinnamon, 1/4 tsp salt.

Sprinkle Flour Mixture onto a work surface. Roll dough out to 1/4" thickness. You can also just use flour only but tends to dry out cookies. Use gingerbread men, ladies, stars, hearts... to cut into shapes. Bake in a 350-degree oven for 8-10 minutes for full-size cookies and 6-8 minutes for mini cookies. Edges should be lightly brown - I undercook my cookies so they stay moist. Do not overbake unless you like a crisp, hard cookie.

Move hot cookies onto a cooling rack to cool.

Royal Frosting:
・1 bag confectioner's sugar
・1 tbsp. shortening
・Water or milk *(if using milk should refrigerate cookies - can also use meringue powder for stiffer frosting) 
・Mix bag of confectioner's sugar with shortening

Add *milk or water slowly until frosting is creamy but not too thin - frosting needs to be stiff enough so when decorating it will hold the shape. You can also use meringue powder for stiffer frosting that will dry harder) Use food coloring to color frosting if desired. Place frosting in a decorator bag with a star tip. Decorate cooled cookies adding buttons, hair, eyes... Let frosting completely dry before storing cookies in an airtight container (like your Takenaka Bento Box)

*If celiac please check all ingredients contain and/or were not manufactured in a factory with gluten