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1
Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt together in a small bowl.
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2
In a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat butter until creamy, about 2 minutes.
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3
Add brown sugar gradually, beating until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes; beat in spices.
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4
Beat in molasses and egg, beating well after each.
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5
Add about one third of flour and mix on low speed.
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6
Gradually add remaining flour, mixing just until blended.
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7
Scrape dough onto large piece of plastic wrap.
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8
Use wrap to help shape into a large, flat disc, then cover with wrap.
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9
Refrigerate until firm; enough to roll out, at least 2 hours or overnight.
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10
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
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11
Roll dough out to 1/4-inch thickness on lightly floured surface.
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12
Cut out ginger bread people or any other shape of your choice.
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13
Place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets.
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14
Place similar-sized cookies on same sheet.
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15
Bake until just light golden brown around edges and the edges feel dry and firm to touch, about 12 minutes, depending on size.
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16
Cool in pans on racks for a few minutes, then transfer cookies to racks to cool completely.
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17
For decorations, place royal icing in a parchment cone, snip a tiny opening, and pipe small dots of icing where you would like the cinnamon red-hot candies to go.
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18
I suggest eyes and a mouth for both men and women.
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19
Then, give the men three candies down their fronts, like buttons on a shirt, and a string of candies around the womens waists to define their skirts.
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20
Allow icing to harden and dry, which will act as glue for the candies.
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21
Good Cookie Tip
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22
To make particularly realistic, and adorable, gingerbread people, use a cleanvery cleangarlic press to press out strands of hair with the dough.
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23
Brush the head area with some beaten egg, then arrange the hair as you like on their heads before baking.
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24
For a Simpler approach to the decoration, place red-hot candies on the cookies before baking by just pressing into the dough.
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25
If youre lucky, the cookie will bake around them and hold them in place, but this doesnt always work.
