Gingerbread Men

Ingredients

• 0.5 teaspoon double-acting baking powder 
• 0.8 teaspoon baking soda 
• 0.8 cup firmly brown sugar packed
• 0.3 cup butter softened
• 48 servings candy-coated chewy fruit-flavored pieces 
• 48 servings currants 
• 1 large eggs 
• 2.8 cups flour all-purpose
• 0.8 teaspoon ground allspice 
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger 
• 0.5 cup blackstrap molasses 
• 48 servings cinnamon candies red cut in half
• 0.3 teaspoon salt 

Equipment

• baking sheet
• oven
• hand mixer
• cookie cutter
• wax paper

Directions

1. Beat butter at medium speed of an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugar, beating until blended.
2. Add egg, beating until blended.
3. Add molasses, beating well.
4. Combine flour and next 5 ingredients; gradually add to molasses mixture, beating until blended. Cover and chill dough 2 hours.
5. Roll half of dough to 1/4" thickness on a floured surface.
6. Cut Gingerbread Men with a 3" cookie cutter.
7. Place on greased cookie sheets.
8. Add excess dough to remaining half of dough; wrap in wax paper, and chill. Press currants, cinnamon candy halves, and fruit-flavored candy pieces into cookies for eyes, mouth, and buttons.
9. Bake at 350 for 8 minutes or until lightly browned.
10. Remove cookies to wire racks; let cool completely. Repeat procedure with remaining dough.
11. Note: For chewy fruit-flavored pieces, we used Skittles.