It's surprising to admit, but I was never a kid who was overly impressed with getting a gingerbread man during the Holidays or any days for that matter.
Maybe it's that those grocery store offerings were harder than sinking your teeth into a wooden plank? Or maybe it was the bitter, lip staining food colouring used to fill in Ginger-Santa's suit? Even as a kid, artifical wasn't my thing. So upon rediscovering the amazing, wafting aromas at my Grandparent's house when the spicy, ginger crackles were baked, I think I truly regained my love of molasses and the Gingerbread Man.
Packed with freshly grated ginger and that s l o w pouring dark goodness, these cookies are barely sweet, leaving room for plenty of adornment for the Holidays.
VEGAN GINGERBREAD COOKIES
1/2 cup Coconut Oil, room temperature
1/2 Cup Fancy Molasses
1/2 Cup Sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
5 teaspoons Freshly Grated Ginger, include any juice
1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
pinch, Freshly Grated Nutmeg
3/4 tsp Baking Soda
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
Cream the coconut oil and sugar until fluffy.
While this goes, and you'll need the time, use spray oil to coat the inside of your 1/2 cup measure.
Pour in your molasses, and don't forget that s l o w saying... it does take it's time.
Add molasses into the fluffed sugar, along with the vanilla.
Using a spoon, peel your ginger, then grate with a microplane into a bowl to catch any extra juice.
Add grated ginger along with its juice, discarding any really stringy bits, until evenly blended.
Follow by adding the cinnamon and nutmeg.
Next, add the soda right to the dough and, on the lowest setting, follow with the flour, a half cup at a time.
Mixing just until dough comes together.
Shape dough into 2 discs and chill for at least 2 hours before rolling.
Preheat oven to 375 °F.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out 1 disc to just over 1/8-inch thick.
Cut your dough out into desired shapes and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Bake for 6 to 8 minutes until edges are firm to touch but centers are still soft.
Allow to cool completely before decorating.
For the icing, I've used this or I found that about 2 Cups of Icing Sugar (check your source), 1/4 Cup Corn Starch or Soy Flour, a drop of vanilla and a dribble of water mixed to a thick ribbon, will pipe really well.