Old Fashioned Gingerbread Men Recipe

I have had a couple requests to share the recipe we use for our gingerbread cookies.
Enjoy!

Old Fashioned Gingerbread Men
From Real Simple Magazine Dec 04/Jan 05

5 to 5 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1 cup butter at room temperature (we use the real stuff)
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg at room temperature
1 cup molasses
1 tsp vanilla extract

Combine the flour, baking soda, salt and spices in a large bowl; set aside. In another bowl, beat the butter, brown sugar and egg with an electric mixer on medium until smooth. Add the molasses and beat until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the vanilla. Stir in the flour mixture 1 cup at a time, blending until smooth. The dough should gather into a semi-firm mass. If it is not firm, add another 1/4 to 1/2 cup of flour, but not enough to make it crumbly. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Divide in half. Flatten into disks and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or up to 1 week.
Preheat oven to 350. On a floured surface, roll each disk to 1/8 inch thickness. Use gingerbread man cutter to make into shapes. Transfer onto a large, parchment lined, baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart. Decorate, if desired. Bake until firm to the touch, about 12 minutes. Cool slightly before transferring to a rack.

(Decorate as desired and put a hole at the top using a straw. After they are cool, thread a ribbon through the hole to hang on the tree.)

I find it works well to keep the dough on the saran wrap to roll out and cut - then it doesn't stick.