Gingerbread Star Cookies

This gingerbread recipe is from Martha Stewart and I have been making it for Christmas every year for quite a few years now.  It has a lot of spice in it and that gives it a great flavor.  The pretty ornament in the picture was made by our pastor's wife.  It is made from barley stalks and she made one for each of the ladies in the church.  I love it because it was such a sweet gift from her and also, when my dad was farming, barley is one of the crops he grew.

6 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 cup unsalted butter

1 cup brown sugar

4 tsp ginger

4 tsp cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp cloves

1 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs

1 1/2 cups molasses

• Combine flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
• Cream butter and sugar until fluffy.  Mix in spices and salt.  Beat in eggs and molasses.
• Add flour mixture; mix on low speed until combined.  Divide into thirds; wrap in plastic.  Chill at least one hour.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Roll out dough to 1/8 inch thick.  Cut into shapes.  Bake 8 to 10 minutes.  Cool and decorate.

 For the icing:
1 cup icing sugar
1 tbsp milk
2 tsp hard margarine or butter, softened
1/4 tsp vanilla

Combine all ingredients in mixer and beat well until smooth.  Use a piping bag and small tip to outline the cookies.  Then hold the cookie over a bowl of sugar.  Spoon the sugar over the top to completely cover the cookie.  Shake off excess sugar.  If these are being packaged for gift giving, let them sit out for a few hours so that the icing can firm up.

 Pretty!

Caleb decorated his very own cookie! 

Linking up at:

Cookie Exchange Party at Tatertots and Jello

Domestically Divine Tuesday at Far Above Rubies

Homestead Barn Hop at New Life on a Homestead