Gingerbread Cookies

Call me impatient, but when I make cookie dough I want to bake the cookie dough immediately without having to chill it for any length of time. So to make gingerbread men in the shortest time I use a molded pan like this. These cookies are thicker than traditional gingerbread men, and are softer and chewy — which makes them scrumptious.

Here’s what you need:

• 1/3 cup canola oil
• 1/2 cup Sucanat
• 1/4 cup organic molasses
• 1/4 cup organic rice milk
• 2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon cloves
• 1 teaspoon ginger

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray molded pan.
2. In a large bowl combined the oil and sucanat. Add the molasses and rice milk, then sift in all the dry ingredients. Mix until well incorporated.
3. Press a spoonful of dough into each gingerbread man mold, filling to halfway mark.
4. Bake for 8-12 minutes, cool completely before decorating.

White Icing:

• 2 cups organic powdered evaporated cane sugar
• 2 Tablespoons organic rice milk
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Make fun faces on the little guys