Instructions:

STEP 1 Preheat oven to 375° F.

STEP 2 Whisk the flour, salt, and spices together in a bowl. Set aside.

STEP 3 In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar until they’ve just come together. (We don’t want to whip them until they are light and fluffy.)

STEP 4 Add the egg until just incorporated.

STEP 5 Add the molasses and vanilla until mixed well.

STEP 6 Slowly add in the flour mixture until your dough forms.

STEP 7 Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to a ¼ inch thickness. Cutout gingerbread man and woman shapes. Bake on a parchment paper lined baking sheet for 8-9 minutes.

EXPERT TIP: If you’re not ready to bake the cookies immediately, wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate (or freeze) until you are ready to bake. Before using, bring to room temperature.

STEP 8 Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.

STEP 9 Carefully decorate the sugar cookies with Cake Mate® white, red and green cookie icing. Before the icing dries, top with sugar. Allow icing to set before adding the next layer of icing.

EXPERT TIP: Outline the shapes of clothes, then fill in the shapes.

STEP 10 Using Cake Mate® cookie icing, pipe thin lines to create details. Before icing dries coat with sugar.

EXPERT TIP: If you are adding sugar to your lines, do one color at a time and allow icing to set between.

STEP 11 Allow cookies to set at least 1 hour before serving.

Celebrate & Enjoy!