Gingerbread Cutouts

You can roll out gingerbread dough into rectangular sheets for walls, cut out windows, and bake. Same for the roof. When done you can fit them together with icing 'glue' and paint them with colored icing. First decide what size and draw each piece (front, back, ends and roof on paper such as typing or computer paper and fit them together to see how it will look when completed. You can also cut out shingles and 'glue' them in place after the rest is assembled. Use the paper pattern as a guide for cutting each piece out of the dough before you bake it. Decorate with icing and decorative candies.

• Calories: 2921 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ cup shortening
• ½ cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon ground cloves
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
• ½ cup molasses

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet.

Step 2

In a mixing bowl beat shortening with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add about half of the flour, the sugar, molasses, egg, vinegar, baking powder, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, and cloves. Beat until thoroughly combined. Beat in remaining flour. Cover and chill for at least 3 hours or until dough is easy to handle.

Step 3

Divide the chilled dough in portions to be rolled out. On a lightly floured surface roll the pieces of dough to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut with a knife, spatula, or pizza cutter to desired sizes for walls, roof, etc. Place on greased cookie sheet.

Step 4

Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 5-6 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on the cookie sheet for 1 minute then remove with spatula to wire rack to finish cooling. Decorate with confectioners' sugar icing colored as desired with food coloring. Decorate and or assemble as desired.