Celebrate the season with the MSU Bakers’ traditional gingerbread recipe and a Spartan cookie stencil.
MSU Bakers’ Gingerbread Spartans
Makes 24 (5-inch) cookies
3 cups flour
2 tsps ground ginger
2 tsps ground cinnamon
¼ tsp nutmeg
¼ tsp cloves
½ tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
¾ cup (1½ sticks) butter, softened
¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar
½ cup molasses
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
Printable versions: Recipe | Gingerbread Spartan Stencil
Mix flour, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in large bowl. Set aside. Beat butter and brown sugar in a large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add molasses, egg, and vanilla; mix well. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed. Press dough into a thick flat disk. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Roll out dough to ¼-inch thickness on lightly floured work surface. Cut dough into gingerbread people shapes with 5-inch cookie cutter. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges of cookies are set and just begin to brown. Cool on baking sheets 1 to 2 minutes. Remove to wire racks; cool completely. Decorate cooled cookies as desired. Store cookies in airtight container up to 5 days.
