JoJo’s Ginger Cookies

Name: JoJo's Ginger Cookies
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: about 1-1/2 dozen.
Ingredients: 1/2 cup shortening; 1/2 cup packed brown sugar; 1/2 cup molasses; 1/4 cup water; 3 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon ground ginger; 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice; 1/2 teaspoon baking soda; 1/2 teaspoon salt; Vanilla frosting and nonpareils, optional

It's so much fun to decorate cookies with children's help. We created gingery moose-shaped cookies to go with a book made especially for my niece's third-grade class. The crispy golden brown cookies stole the show.—Jenet Cattar, Neptune Beach, Florida

Ingredients

1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1/4 cup water
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Vanilla frosting and nonpareils, optional

Directions

In a large bowl, cream shortening and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in molasses and water. In another bowl, whisk flour, spices, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture.
Divide dough in half. Shape each into a disk; placed in covered freezer container, separated with waxed paper. Freeze until firm enough to roll, about 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 375°. On a floured surface, roll each portion of dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 5-in. moose-shaped cookie cutter. Carefully place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake until set, 7-9 minutes. Cool on pans 5 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool. If desired, pipe with vanilla frosting and decorate with nonpareils. Freeze option: Transfer wrapped disks to a covered freezer container, separated by waxed paper; freeze. To use, thaw dough in refrigerator until soft enough to roll. Prepare and bake as directed.