courtesy Very Best Baking

Very Best Baking, a Nestle website, is providing a fun holiday experience. The theme n the front page is Bake some love for Santa! A new holiday baking recipe is available daily. In addition, there is a Nestle Toll House coupon to print along with colorful holiday place mats meant for Santa’s cookies and milk! Oh my, how cute is that!  Another fun part of the Bake Some Love theme is sharing your own story. There you can post your own answer to Who Would You Bake Some Love™ For?

Today’s Bake Some Love recipe were these cute and delicious chocolate gingerbread cookies.

Chocolate Gingerbread Boys and Girls

Ingredients

  • 2 cups (12-ounce package) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels,divided
  • 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 3 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup molasses
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 container (16 ounces) prepared vanilla frosting, colored as desired, or colored icing in tubes

Directions

MICROWAVE 1 1/2 cups morsels in medium, uncovered, microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100%) power for 1 minute; STIR. The morsels may retain some of their original shape. If necessary, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until melted. Cool to room temperature.

COMBINE flour, baking soda, salt, ginger and cinnamon in medium bowl. Beat butter and sugar in small mixer bowl until creamy; beat in molasses and melted chocolate. Gradually add flour mixture alternately with water, beating until smooth. Cover; refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm.

PREHEAT oven to 350° F.

ROLL half of dough to ¼-inch thickness on floured surface with floured rolling pin. Cut dough into gingerbread boy and girl shapes using cookie cutters or a stencil. Place on ungreased baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough.

BAKE for 5 to 6 minutes or until edges are set but centers are still slightly soft. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

PLACE remaining morsels in heavy-duty plastic bag. Microwave on HIGH (100%) power for 30 to 45 seconds; knead. Microwave for 10 seconds; knead until smooth. Cut tiny corner from bag; squeeze to pipe chocolate. Decorate cookies with piped chocolate and prepared frosting or icing.

Before you head for the exit signs, let me just say Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Hope you enjoy the recipe.