Soft Gingerbread Cookies

I got this recipe from a friend of mine. I had never made a gingerbread house before so this was a fun adventure. This makes great gingerbread for cookies. I ended up drying the gingerbread house piece in the oven for a while to make them stiff enough to hold up the candy.

{Gingerbread Cookies}

1 C packed brown sugar

1/3 C Shortening

1 1/2 C dark molasses

2/3 C cold water

7 C flour

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp salt

1 tsp allspice

1 tsp cloves

1 tsp cinnamon

Mix brown sugar, shortening, molasses, and water in a large bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours or until firm. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a cookie sheet. Roll 1/4 of dough at a time 1/4" thick. Cut with floured cookied cutters. Place 2" apart on a baking sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes.