This recipe will make 3 small houses and a few cut-out shapes too.Cover paper (cardstock) cut-outs with plastic strapping tape or laminate so they can be re-used.
2 cubes real butter, room temperature
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses
2 Tbl. cinnamon
2 Tbl. ginger
1 Tbl. ground cloves
2 tsp. baking soda
4 cups flour
4 Tbl. water
In heavy mixer, combine butter and brown sugar. Add molasses, spices, and baking soda. Mix well. Add flour a cup at a time. Add water a Tbl. at a time. Looking for a dough that holds together without being crumbly or wet.
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Moisten counter-top with wet cloth. Cover moist area with tin foil. Spread a bit of oil over tin foil and cover that with wax paper. Roll dough out in portions with rolling pin. Cut shapes with small, sharp knife. Put shapes on cookie sheet covered with parchment. Bake for about 12 min. Immediately after removing from oven, place shape again over dough and slice with small sharp knife to obtain straight edges and sharp corners. Dough will harden fast, so you have to work quickly. If you're making ornaments to hang, immediately use the end of a straw to cut a hole in the hot shape to put a string through. Allow pieces to cool. Remove to cooling rack.
Royal Icing: Make double recipe for 3 small houses
Mix together until frothy:
3 egg whites
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
Slowly add:
4 - 4-1/2 cups powdered sugar
Don't make too stiff. Put in decorator bag and use to assemble and decorate house.
