Sweet Christmas Presents

The best gifts are those who come from the heart, what better way of showing your love that baking your Christmas presents? A cute box of homemade gingerbread cookies is a perfect sweet present for your family and friends, there are a spicy tradition for the holidays and even easy to make. You can go for the classic gingerbread little man, Christmas theme silhouettes or – if you already got another present – you can try this creative gift tag-shaped gingerbread cookies recipe that I found in McCormick® (website).

Gingerbread Cookies

INGREDIENTS (24 Servings)

• 3 Cups flour
• 2 teaspoons Ginger, Ground
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon, Ground
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg, Ground
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
• 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

PREPARATIONMix flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg and salt in large bowl. Set aside. Beat butter and brown sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add molasses, egg and vanilla; mix well. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed. Press dough into a thick flat disk. Wrap in plastic wrap.

Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Roll out dough to 1/8-inch thickness on lightly floured work surface. Cut into 3x2- inch rectangles. Cut corners from one of the short ends of each rectangle so they resemble the shape of gift tags. Make a hole in between the cut sides of the cookies with a drinking straw. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges of cookies are set and just begin to brown. Cool on baking sheets 1 to 2 minutes. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.

To decorate cookie tags, frost with untainted icing. Place frosted cookie tags on cooling rack to dry. Meanwhile, prepare desired colors of food paints. Using small clean paint brushes, paint gift tag designs and messages on frosted cookie tags. Let dry.

Insert ribbon through holes of cookie tags. Place cookie tags in small clear cellophane bags leaving ribbon exposed. Carefully seal bags closed with festive twist ties or smaller pieces of ribbon. Use exposed ribbon from cookie tags to attach to ribbon on wrapped gifts.