Cocoa Gingerbread Cookies - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1/4 cup butter or 1/4 cup margarine, softened
2 tablespoons shortening
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400\u00b0F Lightly grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
Cream together butter, shortening, brown sugar and molasses in a large bowl.
Add egg; beat until light.
Ina separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa, soda, ginger, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg and cloves.
Blend into creamed mixture until smooth.
Refrigerate until firm.
Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Cut out with cookie cutters.
Place 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets.
Bake 8-10 minutes or until firm.
Remove to wire racks to cool completely.
Decorator Icing: Combine 4 c powdered sugar and 2 T milk in a large bowl. Mix until smooth. Add 1 tsp almond or lemon extract. Mix well. Add milk is necessary until smooth and glossy.