Gingerbread Cookies from The New Improved Perfect Gingerbread Cookie Recipe.

This seems to be my time to write. My time for me. It is becoming a standard part of my existence. Truth is, I am not a morning person. I know everyone says it is best to write in the morning… But I am dyslexic. Perhaps in relation to when is the best time to write as well as in the standard sense? I dunno… But it seems to be how I roll doing everything backwards and upside down. When I am at my most relaxed reading a book, you can tell as my husband has come to realize, by the fact that my book is open and turned sideways. I have little attachment to the way things are written. Upside down, right to left, left to right, down to up… It is truly all the same to me. I think this freaks out people close to me sometimes. I know it weirds Dr. Farmer Moomin out to find me with a book turned side ways anyway. I can see the wheels turning in his head, he is wondering, “does she need an exorcism? Who reads like that?” Though he will never say that. Instead, he will say something like, “why are you reading sideways?” Hanging in the following silence is a loud accusation, “freak!” but it too is never spoken. We always stop to consider the needs and welfare and practices of the person with disability. We never stop to wonder how their partner handles it. Dr. Farmer Moomin, is an amazingly good sport about it and a rock. Even when it clearly strikes him as crazy kinds of weird. For that I am grateful. Because it can’t be easy for someone so cookie cutter, to spend his life with someone who is out there in outer space in every way that evidently matters. It’s important to notice when one partner does so much more than hold up his half of the sky. 

But speaking of cookie cutters… Pretty sure I share a recipe for Gingerbread Cookies every year. They always work. They are always alright. But the truth is they are never world stopping or even that great. Every year I struggle to create a recipe I actually do really love. Till now. I finally did it. Seriously, this is the best thing I have ever cooked up in my little New England kitchen at Christmas time. I will never do another Gingerbread recipe. I achieved perfection this year. And now that I have…. I feel a bit upset. What will I do next year if this is in the bag? Homesteaders are a weird crew. We pick away at the things we do. When we hit the nail on the head it can take a moment for us to recalibrate and aim ourselves at something else. So tonight I sit here in a state not of elation at the sweet taste of success. But confusion about what to take on next. There is so much I need to do and to get perfect. Now I sit in a state of obfuscation, about what to do next. This would be how Wiley Coyote, would feel if he ever actually got Road Runner. Now what do I do with myself? Do I take a trip around the world? Set up a smoke house and smoke me some Road Runner meat??? Do I mount his skull on my wall? Do I erect a monument to the anvil that fell causing his demise? Do I retire to Florida to drink the rest of my life away on the beach? This is where I am tonight.

Gingerbread cookies ready for the oven.


In other news… Yeh, there really is no other news…. It has been a very average Saturday, we played board games all afternoon with some friends…. And ummm made cookies and a mess that I need to clean up still tonight before I go to bed. That way I can make brunch for tomorrow. The work never ends on a homestead.

So this recipe, is one I created using several as guides. In addition to using several as loose guides, I also put a New England homestead spin on it. Cuz that is just what my existence is all about. Taking just about anything, and using my dyslexic brain to infuse an alarming amount of New England into it. Truth is, this is a very special region with an incredible history and beautiful nature. We have a very unique American culture here that is unlike anywhere else in the country. Home is a special place. It wasn’t till I spent years away that I realized that New England food culture, is special. Tasting home is just comforting.

You will need:
An oven
Cookie sheets 2
Wooden spoon for mixing
One big bowl
One slightly smaller bowl
Measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Baking paper
Cookie Cutters
A Flour mill
Refrigerator
Saran wrap
Rolling Pin

Wet Ingredients:
200 g or Salted Butter
200 g Brown Sugar
2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
200 g Maple Syrup

Dry Ingredients:
450 g (16 oz) Self milled flour from soft white wheat berries plus extra for dusting surfaces and tools.
2 teaspoons Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Salt
3 teaspoons Ground Ginger
3 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Ground Cloves
1 teaspoon Ground Allspice

Optional:
Decorative sugar for sprinkling just before baking

Start, by lining your cookie sheets with baking paper and set them to the side. Next, grind your flour. Following that, heat your butter in the microwave. Pour it in the larger of your bowls along with the other wet ingredients. Mix them well. Mix together the dry ingredients in the smaller bowl. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet. Mix the wet and dry ingredients together. Once mixed and in a dough ball on the bottom of the bowl lift it carefully out and break it in 2 equal pieces. Wrap each in saran wrap and put in the fridge for an hour  or as long as over night.

Pre heat the oven to 350. Get out the rolling pin, cookie cutters, and flour your surface and tools to prevent dough from sticking. Pull the dough from the fridge, and roll it out till it is about a half an inch thick. Place the cookie cutters. Move each cut out cookie onto one of your cookie sheets, leave some space between each cookie. If you wish to use some decorative sugar, this is the time to do it. Put cookie sheets into the oven bake for 10-15 minutes. Remove from oven allow to cool for 15 minutes.

Enjoy your fresh baked Gingerbread cookies! I know you will cuz I just ate one of these myself and it was glorious.

I truly believe this is the best Gingerbread recipe of all time.
Let me know if you agree.
Thank you for reading
Amanda of Wildflower Farm