•Dough can be chilled up to 2 weeks.
•Cookies (without icing) keep in an airtight container at room temperature 1 month.
•Icing can be made 1 day ahead and chilled, its surface covered with a damp paper towel and bowl covered with plastic wrap. Beat with mixer 1 to 2 minutes before using.
Recipe information
Total Time
1 day (includes chilling dough)
Yield
Makes 40 to 80 cookies (Depending on size)
Ingredients
For cookies:
For royal icing:
Preparation
Make cookies:
Step 1
Pulse shortening, brown sugar, and molasses in a food processor until smooth. Meanwhile, whisk together flour, baking soda, spices, and salt. Add to processor and blend just until combined.
Step 2
Turn out dough onto a floured surface and knead briefly, allowing dough to absorb a little more flour if sticky. Divide dough in half and form each half into a 3-inch square. Wrap each in plastic wrap and chill at least 1 day.
Step 3
Preheat oven to 325°F with rack in middle. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
Step 4
Roll out 1 piece of dough on a floured pastry cloth using floured sleeve-covered rolling pin until very thin (less than 1/16 inch thick), about a 15-inch square. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters and, using offset spatula to transfer, arrange about 1/2 inch apart on baking sheets.
Step 5
Bake cookies, 1 sheet at a time, 10 minutes. Let stand 1 minute on sheet, then loosen with spatula and transfer on parchment to a rack to crisp, about 10 minutes. If first batch isn't crisp, bake 1 minute more (on baking sheet), then bake remaining batches 10 to 11 minutes. Cool cookies completely on rack.
Step 6
Repeat with remaining dough (cool baking sheets and line with fresh parchment). Reroll scraps once for extra cookies if desired.
Make icing:
Step 7
Beat together icing ingredients in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until just combined, about 1 minute. Increase speed to high and beat until icing holds soft peaks, about 3 minutes more. If desired, divide icing and add food coloring.
Step 8
Fill pastry bags with icing and pipe decoratively on cookies, then let set, about 1 hour.
