Gingerbread Ingredients:

• 1 cup plus 2 tbsp butter
• 1 cup sugar
• ¾ cup molasses
• 1 tbsp grated orange rind
• 5 cups sifted flour
• 1 and ½ tsp baking soda
• 1 and ½ tsp salt
• 2 and ¼ tsp ground ginger
• 1 and ½ tsp cinnamon
• ¾ tsp cloves
• ¾ tsp cardamon (optional)

Gingerbread Directions:

1. Beat the butter until creamy. Beat in the sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the molasses and orange rind.
2. Mix dry ingredients together, then stir into wet ingredients, at 1/3 a time, blending well to make stiff dough.
3. Chill several hours or overnight until firm to roll.
4. Roll out the dough between two sheets of wax paper to three-quarters thickness. Cut out house parts.
5. Transfer to a foil covered cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for eight minutes or until firm to the touch. Dough will spread slightly in baking.
6. Put pattern pieces back on each hot baked section of dough; recut quickly while they are still on the foil. (Wear gloves to not burn hands)

Royal Icing Ingredients:

• 16 oz box of powdered sugar
• 3 egg whites
• ½ tsp cream of tartar

Royal Icing Directions:

1. Beat until egg whites creamy.
2. Add cream of tartar until foamy. Add powdered sugar.
3. Beat frosting stands in stiff peaks
4. Enjoy!

Credit: Jane Petrie, may she rest in peace.