Old-Fashioned Gingerbread - cooking recipe

Ingredients

GINGERBREAD INGREDIENTS
8 tablespoons softened butter
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 large egg
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS FOR ICING
2 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup softened butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk or 2 tablespoons cream
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350\u00b0.
Cream together butter and sugar, then beat in molasses and egg.
Mix all dry ingredients together in a separate bowl.
Add the dry ingredients to the creamed butter/sugar mixture and mix until well blended.
Cover and refrigerate for one hour.
Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to about a 3/4-inch thickness.
Cut into 3-inch squares, or use your choice of cookie cutters to cut out shapes.
Place on cookie sheets and bake 7-8 minutes.
Transfer to a rack to cool completely.
If you plan to ice your gingerbread, prepare the icing now.
Mix all icing ingredients together in a small bowl until smooth.