Chewy Gingerbread

There may be no such thing as the perfect man, but this gingerbread makes a pretty close version.

• 1 1/2 sticks butter, at room temperature
• 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 3/4 cup molasses
• 2 tbsp milk
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tbsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves

Preheat your oven to 350˚F, and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Add the molasses and milk, and beat again.

In a second bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Add the dry ingredients to the wet, and mix until combined. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap, and place it in the fridge to chill for 1 hour.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thickness, and cut into gingerbread men (or any large cookie-cutter shape you like). Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheet, and bake them for 8 minutes (they should be set and starting to crack but not hard). Cool the cookies for 2 minutes on the sheet before moving them to a rack.