Instructions

1. Melt butter, add sugar and molasses and stir until sugar disolves. Remove from heat and cool till lukewarm.. Place the 4 1/2 cups flour, spices, baking soda and salt into a large bowl. Pour in warm butter -molasses mixture. Blend well using a large spoon and then kneading with hands until dough forms a balls. If dough is too soft add remaining flour. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate then roll out and cut.
2. Bake @ 350 aprox 10-12 minutes depending on the size of your cookies.
3. If making a gingerbread house.. Trace your patterns onto the rolled gingerbread and cut out and bake till firm.. Immediately after pieces come out of oven place pattern on pieces and retrace with a sharp knife . All edges must be straight. . If dough gets too cold to trim set back in oven for a minute to soften till you have cut out all windows , doors etc. Store flat in a cool dry location till ready to assemble. {not fridge}
4. Assemble using royal icing as the glue. I usually make the pieces a few days before assembling them . After assembling wait a few days if you are getting the kids to decorate as this will ensure that they are strong enough for little hands to handle.