Recipe: Gingerbread people

Total time: 1 1/2 hours, plus chilling time (up to 1 week) for the dough

Servings: 3 1/2 dozen

Note: From Amy Scattergood.

3 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1 tablespoon baking soda

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup molasses (not blackstrap)

1 egg

1 tablespoon finely grated fresh ginger

1 tablespoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom

1. In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt and baking soda.

2. In the bowl of a standing mixer, or in a large bowl using a hand mixer, cream the butter and sugar, 2 to 3 minutes. Mix in the molasses until incorporated, then the egg. Mix in the grated and ground ginger, allspice, cinnamon, pepper, cloves and cardamom until combined. Wrap the dough in plastic and chill for at least two hours -- and up to one week.

3. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Take half of the dough and roll out on a floured work surface to slightly less than one-fourth inch. Using cookie cutters in the desired shape, cut out the dough and place the shapes on a cookie tray lined with parchment, about 1 inch apart. Bake about 10 minutes, or until the edges of the cookies begin to color slightly. Do not over-bake. Cool cookies thoroughly on racks before frosting.

Royal icing and assembly

2 egg whites

2 teaspoons lemon juice

2 cups powdered sugar, sifted

1 recipe gingerbread cookies

Decorations, as desired

1. Place the egg whites and lemon juice in the bowl of a standing mixer (or in a mixing bowl, if using a hand mixer) and mix until combined. Gradually add in the sugar, mixing until well combined. Pipe onto cookies with a piping bag (remember to cover the unused portion of the icing with plastic wrap to prevent drying out). Garnish the cookies as desired with decorations, then dry at room temperature until the icing is hardened. Store in airtight containers for up to 3 weeks at room temperature.

Each of 42 servings: 118 calories; 1 gram protein; 21 grams carbohydrates; 0 fiber; 4 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 14 mg. cholesterol; 126 mg. sodium.