Gingerbread Cookies

*From Our Best Bites first cookbook*

1/2 cup BUTTER (no substitutions)

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup molasses

1 egg yolk

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp cloves

1 tsp ginger

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1) Combine all ingredients well in a stand mixer. Chill for at least 1 hour (it's fairly sticky dough, so you may need to let it chill a little longer).

2) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thick and cut with cookie cutters. Place cookies two inches apart on an un-greased OR parchment lined baking sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes.

**NOTE**If you bake them on the short end the cookies will stay soft and chewy, and if you bake them on the longer end they will be crispy.

3) Allow to cool about 5 minutes on pan and then transfer to write rack and cook completely. Once they're cooled, decorate as desired (or don't decorate at all and eat them).