Christmas is the feast commemorating the birth of Christ. It is fixed in the liturgical year as December 25th and is preceded by four week of fasting called Advent.Gingerbread Cookies
- ¾ cup butter, at room temperature
- ¾ cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
- ½ cup dark molasses
- 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
- 4½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ tsp. baking soda
- ½ tsp. ground cloves
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 2½ tsp. ground gingers
- ¼ tsp. cardamom
- ½ tsp. ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp. salt
- 3 tbsp. cold water
Cream the butter and brown sugar together until fluffy. Add the molasses and lemon juice and beat again. Combine all dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Add the dry to the butter mixture and blend until crumbly. Add the cold water and mix until dough is formed. Knead a minute by hand so that the dough holds together. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1½ hours.
Roll the dough out to a ¼ inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Cut the figurines out of the dough with a gingerbread man or women cookie cutter. Arrange the figures on a non-stick cookie sheet. Bake in a preheated 350ºF oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies begin to turn brown.
