Gingerbread People
Healthy Christmas Recipe
By Fitness and Freebies
It is doubtful anyone would notice these gingerbread cookies are reduced in fat. Cinnamon, cloves, ginger, molasses and allspice give them an authentic gingerbread taste.
Experiment with the cookie decorations. For example, use 1/8-inch satin ribbons for bow ties, and raisins, cinnamon hearts or silver nonpareils to make eyes, nose, mouth and buttons.
Recipe Ingredients
2-3/4 cup cake flour, sifted
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 large egg, beaten
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1 cup dark brown sugar, fimly packed
3/4 cup dark molasses
1/2 cup reduced calorie margarine, at room temperature
Recipe Directions
In a large bowl, sift together first seven ingredients; set aside. In mixer on medium, beat egg, allspice, brown sugar, molasses and margarine. Add dry ingredients to liquid ingredients, a little at a time, mixing after each addition to form a stiff dough.
Gather dough into 2 equal balls, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, 1 hour. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
Remove 1 ball of dough from refrigerator and roll it out on a lightly floured surface to a 1/3-inch thickness. Cut gingerbread shapes from dough with floured cutters (about 3 inches tall). Decorate as desired with oven-safe decorations.
Transfer cookies to baking sheet(s). Bake until slightly firm, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove to wire rack to cool.
Yields 60 Gingerbread People
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Christmas Fact
During World War II it was necessary for Americans to mail Christmas gifts early for the troops in Europe to receive them in time. Merchants joined in the effort to remind the public to shop and mail early and the protracted shopping season was born.
