Easy bake gingerbread guys

Ingredients

Cookies

1/2 cup fancy molasses

1/3 cup dark brown sugar

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ginger

1/2 tsp baking soda

3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

2 eggs

3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

Toppings

-White and black royal icing

-36 Smarties or M&M’s

Method

1. Pre-heat the oven to 350°F.
2. In a double boiler over medium heat, or in a heat-proof bowl set over a pot of simmering water, combine and stir the molasses, sugars, cinnamon and ginger.
3. When the sugars have melted, add in the baking soda and stir. Once the mixture bubbles up, remove the pot from the heat and set aside.
4. Meanwhile, place the butter in a stand mixer bowl fitted with a paddle attachment and slowly pour the warm molasses mixture over the butter. 
5. With the machine running on medium speed, mix until the butter has completely melted and the mixture has cooled slightly. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
6. With the mixer running on low speed, slowly add the flour until it’s fully combined. Then lift the dough from the bowl and place it on a well-floured work surface. Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough to about 1/4" thick.
7. Use a 5" gingerbread man cookie cutter to cut your cookies. Carefully arrange them, about 1" apart, onto two parchment paper-lined baking sheets. You will need to combine the scraps and re-roll the dough several times to use it all up.
8. Bake in the oven until the centre of the cookies are still slightly soft to the touch, about 10 minutes. If you prefer your gingerbread crunchy, bake them for a few minutes longer. Then transfer the cookies onto wire racks and allow them to cool completely before decorating.
9. Meanwhile, spoon the royal icing into piping bags fitted with plain tips, and let the fun begin.

These adorable gingerbread guys are great for a cookie exchange or kid-friendly holiday party.