Time for Gingerbread

These are good made up as men or can be cut in rounds for a ginger snap. 

These cookies are so good I'm not sure they will last long enough to decorate.  Might want to make a double batch!

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cups brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tablespoon orange or lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons molasses
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Cream the butter and the sugar together. Add the egg and mix well. Mix in the orange/or lemon peel and molasses. Add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, ground cloves and salt, mixing until well combined. Chill dough for at least 2 hours.  I chilled overnight.
2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out to 1/4 inch thick. Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 inch apart on the prepared cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until cookies are firm and lightly toasted on the edges.