Gingerbread Men

I am bringing an army of gingerbread men to a cookie exchange tonight!  Yes, they are more work than a traditional bar or drop cookie, but isn't the cute worth it?


My grandmother always made gingerbread men to hang on her Christmas tree.  A red ribbon around the neck (tied with a bow) was the perfect place to catch the wire ornament hanger.  These boys hung all over her tree and we were "allowed" one as a snack when we dropped by.  Picking a cookie off of a tree (like an apple!) was a thrill when I was eight.  These edible ornaments continue to be a tradition in my house.


The trick is letting them dry out a bit - they need to harden up to be able to withstand the pressure of hanging.  When you make your batch, don't roll them too thin.  You are looking for a sturdy cookie.  The recipe? "All you need is a red box (there is also a pouch, but I've never tried it) of Betty Crocker Gingerbread Cake and Cookie mix (plus a bit of water, flour and melted butter).  The recipe is on the side of the red box and they come out perfectly every time.  The cutter?  I found this website and the "7 1/2 inch tin plated" gingerbread man looks a lot like the shape of mine.


This year if you are invited to a cookie exchange, instead of resorting to a bar cookie, maybe you can find time for the cute.