Sister, Mom, Grammy
I wanted to share this post with you earlier in the season, but I must admit that time got the best of me this year. This visit to Mamo’s Kitchen was sent to me by my husband’s niece Nina, who wanted to share Annette’s Gingerbread Cookies and their family tradition.
You may remember from previous posts that my husband is one of six kids. His sister Annette (Nina’s mom) was kid number four. Perhaps that is why she was so sweet and funny and nurturing and…well…so Annette! Does your place in the family hierarchy determine personality? Anyway, it always seemed to me Annette was born to be a mom, a caregiver…she was a natural!
Annette was the one who always brought Easter baskets for all the kids (even when hers were all grown) and who always knew what the coolest toys were that year. And she sooo loved being a Grammy to her beautiful granddaughters!
In addition to being a great mom, Annette was a strong, courageous, loving woman who taught her three kids to be confident and kind and to pursue their dreams with all their heart.
Making Memories
One of Nina’s most precious memories of the holidays is making these gingerbread cookies every year with her mom.
“She was amazing at making them. I still remember her making the dough the day before and letting it sit in the refrigerator all night. The next day we would take it out, roll it, and press out the cookies.”
“She would make the frosting from scratch. She would always let us have a paintbrush so we could paint some too.”
Annette was so good good at designing these cookies. Should would add scarves to them, and would even add individual Jimmies to make the tassels. Every one looked perfect!
Nina remembers “Everyone looked forward to getting her cookies every year. They were adorable, and delicious. Such a great memory that I have now passed on to my own kids.”
So, without further ado, and with teary eyes thinking about that wonderful memory, below is the recipe for Annette’s scrumptious Gingerbread Cookies. These cookies are so fun for the kids to make and they make great gifts too! I hope you give them try this weekend. Let me know in the comments below how they turn out!
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Michele
Annette’s Gingerbread Cookies
Sweet, crispy, deliciously adorable cookies full of the flavors of the season!
Ingredients
Cookies
- 1 cup butter – softened
- 2/3 cup brown sugar – packed
- 1/2 cup light molasses
- 1 egg
- 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp allspice
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp cloves
Icing
- 5 cups confectioner’s sugar
- 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
- 4 egg whites
- food coloring if desired
Instructions
Cookies
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Beat butter, brown sugar and molasses until light and fluffy.
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Add egg and remaining ingredients and mix until combined.
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Shape dough into a ball; wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate 3-4 hours (or overnight) until firm.
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 2 large cookie sheets. Cut dough in half. Roll out one half on a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin to about 1/4″ thick. Cut out as many as possible with cookie cutters. Place on cookie sheets about one inch apart.
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Repeat with the second half of the dough. Bake for 12 minutes, or until edges have become light brown. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack.
Icing
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Beat all ingredients on high speed until a knife drawn through the icing leaves a clean-cut path. Divide and color with food colorings if desired.
This is so sweet, Michele. Thanks so much for sharing the memory of my mom. This was a very special one.
Thank you Nina for allowing me to share. I hope I did it justice!
You described her perfectly… and I love that you shared her recipe!
thank you Jackie. It was a joy!