Cocoa Gingerbread Cookies

Total Time: 23 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 8 mins

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup butter or 1/4 cup margarine, softened
• 2 tablespoons shortening
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 400°f lightly grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
• 2 cream together butter, shortening, brown sugar and molasses in a large bowl.
• 3 add egg; beat until light.
• 4 ina separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa, soda, ginger, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg and cloves.
• 5 blend into creamed mixture until smooth.
• 6 refrigerate until firm.
• 7 roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. cut out with cookie cutters.
• 8 place 2 inches apart on the prepared cookie sheets.
• 9 bake 8-10 minutes or until firm.
• 10 remove to wire racks to cool completely.
• 11 decorator icing: combine 4 c powdered sugar and 2 t milk in a large bowl. mix until smooth. add 1 tsp almond or lemon extract. mix well. add milk is necessary until smooth and glossy.