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1
Position racks in the top & bottom thirds of the oven, then preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
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2
With shortening (not on ingredient list) to grease several large baking sheets, then set aside.
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3
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, baking powder & cloves until spices & coca are evenly distributed, then set aside.
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4
In a 2nd large bowl, & using an electric mixer on medium speed, cream shortening & brown sugar until smooth & airy, about 1 minute.
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5
Beat in egg & then the molasses.
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6
Turn off mixer & add prepared flour mixture, then AT VERY LOW SPEED beat just until crumbly bits of dough form, but not until the mass begins to cohere into a ball.
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7
With flour lightly dust a clean, dry work surface as well as your hands.
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8
Turn dough out & knead just until it forms a smooth mass, about 30 seconds.
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9
Divide into thirds & cover them with a clean kitchen towel.
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10
With flour lightly dust the work surface again & roll one of the thirds to a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. Flour the dough & a rolling pin only as necessary.
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11
Use a large gingerbread-man cookie cutter to cut the dough into the desired shapes, then use a metal spatula to transfer them carefully to the prepared baking sheet(s). Gather any scraps, lightly dust again with flour & roll out a 2nd time, creating additional gingerbread men.
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12
Decorate the cookies with the raisins & red hots, using one for the eyes & the other for the mouths. Additional red hots can be used as buttons on their coats.
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13
Bake for 4 minutes, then rotate sheets top to bottom & front to back.
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14
Bake another 4 minutes, or until cookies feel dry but still are a little soft.
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15
Remove from oven & cool on the baking sheets for 2 minutes before transferring the cookies to wire racks to cool completely.
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16
Cool the baking sheets for 5 more minutes, then regrease them before baking additional batches, as necessary, OR work with 2 additional baking sheets, preparing them while the others are in the oven.
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17
Keep no longer than 2 days at room temperature, several more days in the refrigerator, OR up to a month in the freezer.
