Gingerbread Monsters

I found this idea on my friend’s blog and just had to try it with my kids.  First of all, if you like gingerbread even a little bit, you will find these very yummy, no matter what they look like. 

This is how they are supposed to turn out:

 

I made the dough myself, but I called the kids when it came time to shape and bake them.  The kids came running! 

 

Usually baking with the kids is a bit of martyrdom on my part, but this was actually really fun.  It was Piper who gave me the idea of making some of the balls into snowmen.

 

So we ended up with bears, snowmen, wreaths, and monsters!

 

Thanks for the idea, Deanna!

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Gingerbread Bears

1 cup margarine or butter

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

2/3 cup molasses

- Stir these ingredients over medium heat until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves. Pour into large mixing bowl, cool for 5 minutes.

4 cups flour

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. ground ginger

¾ tsp. baking soda

¾ tsp. ground cloves

- Combine all these ingredients in a mixing bowl; set aside

1 beaten egg

1 ½ tsp. vanilla extract

- Add to the butter mixture; mix well

Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat until combined well. Cover and chill dough for at least 2 hours or overnight.

To shape bears: make ball about ¾” to 1” for the body and a slightly smaller ball for the head. Make small balls for ears and nose. Roll logs for legs and arms – cut to size with knife. Assemble on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten head and body balls slightly and attach ears, nose, arms and legs. Press miniature chocolate chips point side up for eyes. For paws, press mini chocolate chips point side in, into ends of arms and legs. Bake at 325 degrees for about 12-15 minutes or until edges are light brown. Makes about 36 small bears.