Ingredients:3/4 cup butter (room temperature)
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup molasses
2 egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/3 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons ginger
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup molasses
2 egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/3 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons ginger
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
Cream butter, sugar and molasses with mixer on low. Add rest of the ingredients and mix on low until smooth. Divide into two equal balls, wrap with saran wrap and put in refrigerator for 4 hours or overnight. Remove one dough ball at a time and roll out on floured surface with rolling pin that has been floured. Roll to about 1/4 inch thick. The thinner you can get them the better because they swell up while cooking. Dip cutter in flour, cut 
out cookies, and place on a greased cookie sheet. Bake in preheated 375 degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes. Let sit for 7 or 8 minutes before removing from cookie sheet. 
White frosting for Gingerbread Men:
1 cup powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
About 5 teaspoons milk
Mix together and put in pastry bag or plastic bag with end cut off to decorate the cookies. Add milk if needed to get right consistency.
And if you don't want Gingerbread Men ... be creative ... these are beautiful and just like the Fruit Cake cookies would make great gifts. ~ Chef Wilkinson ~
