Gingerbread Cookies

Scratch Gingerbread - these are Ninjabread Cookies!

Not too long ago, I sat in Starbucks with some of my good friends sipping our beverages of choice (a nonfat, half-sweet, no-whip Pumpkin Spice latte for me – my favourite fall treat) and the subject of Molasses came up. My friend Angela received cookie cutters in the shape of ninjas from her friend Emily, and Angela was eager to make ninjabread! (We conceded that yes, the cookie cutters could be used with shortbread, however ninjashortbread just doesn’t have the same ring to it…)

“I’m going to buy a gingerbread mix,” Angela said. Blasphemy.
“I have a better idea,” I said. “Let's make ninjabread together, from scratch! I have all the ingredients but molasses, so I can pick that up.” Then we proceeded to discuss how strange molasses is – it’s texture, it’s consistency… How it reminds me of the expression, “slow as molasses” or, the less commonly used full expression, “slow as molasses in January.”

“I’ve never heard that saying before,” Angela said.

“Um, grade 9 Physics? Don’t you remember learning about the Molasses Disaster?”

Blank stare. Fair enough, I have a really good memory – for some things, anyways.

It was January 15, 1919, and in the North End of Boston, a molasses storage tank burst. Molasses ran through the streets at an estimated speed of 56 km/h (35 m/h). When the storage tank collapsed, it created a wave of molasses between 8 and 15 feet high, several nearby blocks were flooded in 2 to 3 feet of molasses, and unfortunately, 21 people died, while 150 were injured from the Molasses Disaster. (Thank you Wikipedia for refreshing my memory on the facts of this tragedy).

       
Now, as I said, I have a good memory… but since Physics (or any science) has never been my forte, I can no longer tell you why we learned about the expression “slow as molasses” or the Molasses Disaster in grade 9 Physics. I believe it has something to do with the velocity of molasses…  Surprisingly, my quick google search didn’t help me find the answer either. Please feel free to enlighten me if you know any more about molasses!

       
Also – I have to add this in because I’m a huge history nerd and love literature – in Gone With the Wind, when Scarlett tells her house servant, Prissy, that she is “slow as molasses” – this is an historical inaccuracy. Although Margaret Mitchell wrote Gone With the Wind after the Molasses Disaster (published in 1936), the story is set during the Civil War and Reconstruction period, and so really Scarlett had no idea how slow (or fast) molasses could move in January!            

       
Now that you know everything you never thought you needed to know about molasses, here is how to use this sticky syrup to create ninjabread! Angela and I baked these cookies together, and to learn more about the cookie cutters and see all the creative things you can do with ninjabread cookies, check out Angela’s blog by clicking here. 

We used my aunt's recipe for Gingerbread - as you can see, she has beautiful handwriting. I've typed it out for you below so it's easier to read!

THE RECIPE:

½ cup butter

½ cup packed brown sugar

1 egg

½ cup molasses

¼ cup water

2 ¾ - 3 cups flour (I used 1 cup whole wheat, 2 cups regular flour)

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon ginger

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground allspice

1. In large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Beat in egg, molasses and water.

2. In separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt and spices.

3. Gradually blend dry ingredients into creamed mixture. If necessary, chill until firm enough to roll.

4. On floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8-inch (3 mm) thickness. Cut into desired shapes and place on parchment paper-lined baking sheet

6. Bake in 350° F oven for 8 to 10 minutes, or golden brown at the edges.

7. Let cool and decorate if desired. Makes about 40 ninjas. 

 Fancy Molasses. Not to be confused with fancy-pants. 

 Pouring the molasses - we were very careful to avoid any spills. 

 Cutting the gingerbread dough into ninjas! 

This is a great gingerbread recipe if you're looking for softer cookies with lots of flavour. Of course, if you don't have ninja shaped cookie cutters, you can use any shape cookie cutters you like, or roll the dough into flat discs for a round cookie. I will most likely be using this recipe again at Christmas time (especially because I now have an almost full container of molasses in the fridge) - but then you can definitely expect that the cookies will be festively decorated with icing! (Jo has a piping kit!)

Happy Thanksgiving! 


- Caroline