CHRISTMAS-SHAPED GINGERBREAD COOKIES

Yes, it's Christmas Eve and that means gift giving time!!  So I wanted to give you all one last Christmas recipe.  Gingerbread is one of those traditional recipes we all know and love.  Which mean I don't have to say anything because it speaks for itself tried and true.  On that note, I wish everybody a happy and safe holiday!!  I hope you enjoy this recipe!!

COOKIES:
3/4 cup-dark brown sugar
1 stick of butter
2 large eggs
1/4 cup-molasses
3 & 3/4 cups-flour
2 tsp-ginger
1 & 1/2 tsp-baking soda
1/2 tsp-cinnamon
1/2 tsp-nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
Your favorite Christmas cookie cutters

ROYAL ICING:
4 egg whites
4 cups-powdered sugar
1 tsp-vanilla extract
1 tsp-cream of tartar
Food coloring (optional)

Colored sugar and sprinkles (optional)

ALL INGREDIENTS IN THIS RECIPE MUST BE ROOM TEMPERATURE!

Cookies go first.....

1. In a bowl, cream brown sugar and butter, mix in eggs and molasses
2. Grab another bowl, sift together flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg
3. Add dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mix until dough form ( You may need to use your clean hands)
4. Wrap in platic wrap and chill in the fridge for 1 hour
5. Next let dough sit at room temperature for 15 minutes.
6.  Roll out dough out to a 1/4 or a 1/2 inch thick. ( You can use a little flour if you want but dough is not that sticky)
7.  Take floured cookie cutters and cut out shapes, keep gathering loose dough and rerolling until you can't make any more shapes.
8. Place shapes on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper, place in the fridge for 20 minutes

9. Bake for 18-20 minutes, cool completely.