Old-Fashioned Gingerbread Men

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon baking soda 
• 1 large eggs at room temperature
• 5 cups flour all-purpose
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 
• 0.5 teaspoon ground cloves 
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger 
• 0.5 teaspoon nutmeg 
• 1 cup brown sugar light packed
• 0.8 teaspoon salt 
• 1 cup butter unsalted at room temperature (2 sticks)
• 1 cup blackstrap molasses 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Equipment

• bowl
• baking sheet
• oven
• hand mixer

Directions

1. Combine the flour, baking soda, salt, and spices in a large bowl; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter, brown sugar, and egg on medium until smooth.
2. Add the molasses and beat until fluffy, about 2 minutes.
3. Add the vanilla. Stir in the flour mixture 1 cup at a time, blending until smooth. The dough should gather into a semifirm mass. (If it's not firm, add another to cup flour, but not enough to make it crumbly.) Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Divide in half. Flatten into disks and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 1 week. Preheat oven to 350 F. On a floured surface, roll each disk to 1/8 inch thick. Use gingerbread-man cutters to make shapes.
4. Transfer them to a large, parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart. Decorate, if desired.
5. Bake until firm to the touch, about 12 minutes. Cool slightly before transferring to a rack