Gingerbread Christmas Cookies

Have you bakes any Christmas Cookies yet?

Not that I’m counting, but there are 18 days until Christmas! I am QUITE excited… One of my favourite things to do at this very merry time of year, is Christmas baking. I could literally live off shortbread and apple pie. But I don’t… but I would… but I don’t… but seriously… I would…

One of my favourite Christmas treats is the good ol’ Gingerbread cookie. Gotta love a classic hey?! Not only does the baking of the amazing gingerbread cookie make your house smell ridiculously good, but they are delicious and super festive.

Speaking of Gingerbread…let’s make some! OK Amy, great idea! Thanks Amy. I’ll tell you what will make this experience really easy and therapeutic? Baking with my 9mth old baby, Poppy.

Here is a yummy recipe for some Christmas Gingerbread, so go get your aprons on and lets getting baking!

What you’ll need:

3 cups plain flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground all spice
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 cup raw sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses
2 tbsp butter
1/3 cup apple sauce
1 egg beaten
1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
9 mth old Baby (either male or female).

How to make those damn cookies (with the help of a 9month old baby):

– Ok, so first things first. You need to light up that oven so it’s a nice, sizzling 180°C (google the °F, it’s like a little treasure hunt for you).

– The attention span of said baby is low, pass them a spatula. That will give you 5 minutes.

– Next grab two baking trays and cover them with some baking paper and give them a little spray of coconut oil, or grease with butter.

– Grab a bowl and mix together 3 cups of flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and all your spices.

– Have a big whiff (coz it’ll smell goooood) and set aside.

– Show baby whats in bowl, because they have been screeching at it in that really high pitched, annoying way.

– In a large bowl, mix your butter until it becomes nice and creamy.

– Add in your raw sugar, brown sugar and beat until it becomes light and fluffy.

– Baby should be “crying” at this point, so replace festive Christmas carols you are playing on your phone, with ‘The Wiggles’. Why enjoy yourself?

– Mix in your egg and give it another whizz so it’s all combined.

– Add in your applesauce, molasses and vanilla extract and mix it through well.

– Music has been turned off and 4-7 phone calls have been made to your phone list by child. Take phone, turn carols back on and give baby a teething rusk.

– Now grab your bowl with your dry ingredients and mix it into the wet. Stir through until it’s a nice big lump of yummy cookie dough.

– Grab the dough in glad wrap and pop it in the fridge for about 30 minutes.

– Baby will want to help you take things out of fridge. Although this isn’t a necessary step in the recipe, it might make your life easier to allow this for 2-3 minutes.

– After it’s had time to chill out (get it… coz it was in the fridge) take it out and pop it on either a bench or chopping board that’s been sprinkled with flour.

-Roll it out with a rolling pin so that it’s about 1/4 inch thick.

– Have a little nibble of some of the dough if you want, go on live a little!

– Baby wants some. I am pretty sure that’s what that scream meant… give them some banana… that’s what you were eating right?…. riiiiiiight “banana”.

– Cut into shapes using a cookie cutter, preferably a gingerbread man… coz it’s gingerbread dough… you know? Not trying to be shape-ist though…

– Place them on the baking trays and bake for about 9-11 minutes.

(Gingerbread Christmas Cookies, The men pre-baking… the dough is too yummy…watch out for that!)

– Let them cool on a drying rack for about 10 minutes.

– Give the baby some. They’re happy. You’re happy. The house is quiet.

– Eat those damn cookies until you can’t eat no more!