There's something so comforting about the familiarity of tradition at any time of year - but at Christmas, there's something extra magical about those family traditions we call our own.
This year, with two eager little helpers in our family, we've been more intentional than ever about making memories through the holiday season. Ones, that I hope our boys will look back on in years to come and remember with so much fondness and excitement. Memories they'll look back on as together time. Time that we spent as a family, sharing, being present in that moment (covered in flour and all) and where the cares of the world indeed grow strangely dim.
This year - I decided was the year for making gingerbread! Now, I love baking - eh hem...I love the idea of baking, but when it comes to cookies - previously, I haven't had much joy. Until now! I can confirm, these are as genuinely fool proof as you can hope for and they come with the added bonus of all the festive Christmassy-spice smells wafting through your home and handmade gifting for your neighbours made easy.
For sure, you can expect this tradition to be one we keep for many years to come and I hope they become a treasured part of your Christmas too!
Enjoy x
A friend shared this video with me recently (albeit a Chick-fil-a advertisement!), but it seems to sum up the value of this time shared with the ones you love. Enjoy!(watch the video here)
INGREDIENTS
- 3 cups plain flour
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp ground ginger
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1 large free-range or organic egg
- 1/2 cup molasses
METHOD
Preheat oven to 190 degrees.
In a small bowl combine the flour and spices and whisk to combine
In a larger bowl cream the butter, sugar and egg together (don't over mix)
Add molasses and vanilla to this bowl and stir to combine.
Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter/sugar mixture stirring to combine into a dough.
(it will be crumbly, but not dry)
Place dough on floured counter and hand knead.
Roll dough to 1/2cm thickness. Dough should be only used at room temperature
Bake for 7-9 minutes. Allow cookies to cool on a rack completely before icing if you choose.
"They taste even better if you give them away!" - James (age 5) x
Featured here and available to shop:
Winterwares Ceramics
Recipe via Rain and Pine blog Share pics of your baking with us at @may.homestore and let us know how yours turned out!