GINGERBREAD COOKIES

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine
• 1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
• 1/3 cup dark molasses
• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3/4 tsp. ginger
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 Tbsp. grated lemon peel
• Candies for trim

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Cream butter and add sugar; cream until light and fluffy.
3. Blend in molasses.
4. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, spices, and lemon peel; add to creamed mixture, blending thoroughly.
5. Cover and chill the dough.
6. Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness on a floured surface; cut into desired shapes.
7. Bake for 8–10 minutes and cool completely.
8. Decorate as desired.