Moravian Christmas Cookies

A very large recipe for gingerbread-molasses-type Christmas cookies from the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania area. A full batch makes more than 12 dozen. With medium cookie cutters, a quarter recipe made 74 cookies.

• Preparation Time: 60 mins
• Cooking Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins
• Calories: 89 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 8 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup lard
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• 4 cups molasses
• 2 ¼ cups brown sugar

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 2

Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned, about 10 minutes.

Step 3

Sift flour, cinnamon, and ginger together in a large bowl. Add sugar and mix well. Work lard and butter into the flour mixture using a pastry blender.

Step 4

Combine vinegar and baking soda in a small bowl; mix to dissolve. Add mixture to the flour mixture in the bowl. Add molasses and mix thoroughly. Place dough in the refrigerator until chilled, about 30 minutes.

Step 5

Roll dough out very thin on a floured surface. Cut into shapes using fancy cookie cutters.