I am a bit surprised that I never blogged on this particular recipe, adapted over the years from several sources, including a version from Phil’s family. It uses a small amount of baking soda, that makes the cookie puff a little bit but not spread too much. My current favorite version includes ground star anise, I am kind of smitten by its flavor.

GINGERBREAD CUTOUT COOKIES
(from The Bewitching Kitchen)
375g flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp ground ginger
1 + 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp cardamoon
1/2 tsp ground star anise
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup butter (170g)
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg
Mix flour, baking soda and spices in a large bowl. Reserve.
To a mixer, add butter at room temperature and brown sugar. Beat until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Add molasses, mix until incorporated. Add egg and mix. Add the flour mixture in two steps, mixing at low speed.
Place dough in fridge for 1 hour to overnight. Roll out, cut shapes, bake preferably from frozen for 10 min, at 350F.
Decorate if desired, when at room temperature.
ENJOY!
to print the recipe, click here

I love the smell of these cookies while baking and also as they sit later at room temperature. The star anise is a fantastic addition, a tip I got a few years ago from Haniela.

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Oh – these are probably the first cookies I ever tasted as a small bub in Estonia as a hugely welcome Christmas treat 🙂 ! I must have had a palate for spice even then ’cause I just loved them and sneaked more from the plate when Mom was not looking and managed to get a tummy ache! Even here in Australia those born up north begin their Christmas preparations with making black pudding and blood cakes, pork brawn and ‘piparkoogid’ which is the name of your beauties! Perhaps ours are a little less ‘fancy’ . . . smile!!!
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i am so glad you shared this, I was just remembering my mom’s excellent gingerbread cookies and what fun we had cutting out reindeer, Santas, bells, and angels and decorating and eating them! Her recipe is lost and she is gone, so I look forward to trying yours! Merry Christmas!
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