Christmas Countdown

The last day of Novemeber marks the official start of advent calendars and Christmas countdowns.  In my family it meant baking dozens and dozens of gingerbread men and women to create Christmas countdowns for all of our friends.  My sisters and I would take turns mixing, cutting, and helping assemble the gingerbread chains.  We would place 25 gingerbread cookies on a long piece of saran wrap, carefully turn the cookies into the saran wrap, and finish with bows between each cookie.  I’m not sure if it was more fun to create the gingerbread chains or to deliver them.  We would drive all over the city and knock on our friends doors handing out the chains.  Everyone had different rules for who got to eat the cookie each day.  In our family it was whoever volunteered to say the prayer at dinner time.  The smell of molasses and ginger, the warmth of the stove, and the smiles on peoples faces always triggered the beginning of the holiday season.  Everyone loves an advent calendar, especially one that involves treats!

This recipe comes from the Scovil Bakery in Nauvoo, Illinois and makes the best gingerbread you will ever eat.  When making these cookies put the wet ingredients in first to lessen the amount of flour that sticks to the bottom and try spraying the bowl with cooking spray to help the dough come out more easily.  Cookies that have been frozen are softer and more flavorful.

Combine together in mixer:
3/4 cup oil
1/2 cup hot water
2 eggs
2 tablespoons cinnamon
2 tablespoons ginger
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup molasses
1 1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 – 7 cups flour  
 
Refrigerate dough overnight.
Cut into desired shapes and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes