Samer's Gingerbread Men

1.Preheat the oven to 350°.

2.Using the paddle attachment, blend the butter and brown sugar until creamy in the bowl of a stand mixer. When thoroughly combined, add the dark molasses.

3.Sift the flour with the soda, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and salt. Add the sifted ingredients to the butter mixture in 3 parts, alternating with 1/4 - 1/2 cup water. You should have a stiff dough, so use as little water as possible.

4.Roll the dough on a floured board to about 1/4” thickness and use the cookie cutters to make the gingerbread men. The scraps can be re-used once to form additional cookies.

5.Place the uncooked gingerbread men onto a parchment or silpat lined cookie sheet and decorate with raisins. Place the tray on a middle rack in the oven and bake about 8 minutes. If the dough springs back when lightly pressed, the cookies are done. Remove from the oven and cool.

6.In a small bowl, stir together the sifted powdered sugar and either water or lemon juice until a smooth paste forms. Decorate the cooled cookies with the icing.