Gingerbread Cookies

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, ground ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Now in a large bowl whisk together the coconut milk, oil, molasses, sugar, and vanilla extract until everything is all mixed up. Dump the flour mixture into the sugar mixture and stir it together until there aren’t any more dry spots. Yup, the dough is that easy.

To bake right away: warm up your oven to 350 degrees and scoop out golf ball-sized amount of dough. Roll it into a ball and then roll that ball into the sugar to coat the outside or just the top if that’s more your speed. It adds a nice texture to the finished cookie and makes them pretty but you can skip it if you like. Place all the balls of dough on a cookie sheet lined with parchment and bake for 15-18 minutes, until the cookies are firm on the sides and browned on the bottom. Let them cool on the cookie sheet for a few before moving them to a cooling rack. These guys are great for the first 4 days after you bake them then start getting a little crumbly and soft.

To use a cookie cutter: Divide the prepared dough in half, and then pat each half into a thick circle like a pupusa. Wrap the dough or stick it in a plastic zip top bag and refrigerate AT LEAST 1 hour or preferable overnight. The dough is sticky by nature and chilling it helps it firm up and makes it much easier to roll so don’t skip this step.

Once the dough has chilled, warm up your oven to 350 degrees. Dust your work surface and rolling pin with some flour to prevent sticking then grab one of those gingerbread disks. Roll the dough out to about 1/8-1/4 inch thick. If you want crispier cookies, go on the thinner side. Like them a little soft and chewy? Go thicker. If you’re dough is sticking to your surface, try rolling it between two sheets of parchment paper to make things easier on yourself. Cut out your shapes with your cookie cutters and place them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment. If you want to decorate them with any sprinkles or a dusting of coarse sugar, now is the time. Bake them for 8-12 minutes, depending on the thickness, until the edges are firm. Let them cool on the cookie sheet for a few before moving them to a cooling rack. Let them cool COMPLETELY before trying to decorate them with icing or anything like that. These are best in the first 3 days after they’re baked.