Famous Gingerbread Cookie Cutter

Cookie Cutter Still Available

Choose a Gingerbread Recipe

Once upon a time there was a mom and her four sons and a - gingerbread cookie cutter.

That cookie cutter and her gingerbread recipe were used at least once every year by mom at Christmas time to the delight of her four sons. Her sons loved to help her decorate each gingerbread boy and then, of course, eat them.

Those cookies and that particular gingerbread cookie cutter became a famous cookie cutter (at least for many Americans).

Making the gingerbread boy cookies continued for a number of years in mom’s kitchen, and each year the four boys always looked forward to “helping” by using the gingerbread cookie cutter on the gingerbread and decorating the gingerbread boys with homemade frosting. Of course they continued to eat them, rationed out one at a time by mom.

Then, as all the sons began reaching junior high and senior high age, the tradition became something they no longer felt “appropriate” - that is – until they were full-grown, married and had families.

Then, the tradition was resurrected and passed on in their families. In fact, the tradition was “expanded.” Now their families made the gingerbread boy cookies and added the tradition of watching classic Christmas time movies (“It’s A Wonderful Life,” Miracle on 34th Street,” “White Christmas,” “Christmas in Connecticut,” and “Holiday Inn” ) while feasting on the gingerbread cookies pressed by an exact duplicate of the original gingerbread cookie cutter used by mom.

You see, a number of years previously, the oldest son requested he be given the gingerbread boy cookie cutter mom had always used. Mom said “yes,” but both immediately discovered that the plastic cookie cutter had been broken at some point in time. This saddened the entire family.

Guy, the oldest son and an excellent researcher, became determined to find a cookie cutter exactly as he, mom and his three brothers remembered.

Researching for some time, anticipating that he might only discover it accidentally in an antique shop - low and behold - he found it online and still available through a small company in New Jersey!

Guy, my husband’s older brother, tried to track the gingerbread boy cookie cutter through its U.S. Patent number. No luck. But then, he found them on the internet, still available through The Cookie Craft Company. A small miracle, but significant to him and his extended family.

This vintage “Jolly Gingerbread Boy,” originally made in clear red, blue, and green plastic, was patented in 1940 by Fred and Mollie Miller of Enid, Oklahoma (patent No.127026).

This gingerbread cookie cutter was the only design they ever made and patented and the patent was sold in 1961 to Educational Products which is “Cookie Craft” today.

There are a wide variety of gingerbread cookie recipes available, but two are especially important for Guy, his brothers and the greater family. One is the original recipe used by mom. Guy describes the cookies as “good for dunking.” He says a large part of the taste comes from frosting the gingerbread men generously.

(Brother Guy "does his thing" in keeping a family tradition alive and well.)

The other gingerbread recipe is from his wonderful wife, Anne.

Guy believes that Anne’s gingerbread actually tastes better than his mom’s recipe (of he is a smart fellow), but he says it does “puff up” and in doing so, obscures the gingerbread boy cookie cutter imprint.

But both serve the purpose of creating (or re-creating) a special cookie for a special holiday treat.

Try them both! You and your family decide which recipe you prefer, and in doing so, create your own Christmas tradition!

You might also consider enjoying your cookies while watching one of those classic Christmas movies Guy and his family watch every year as part of their Christmas tradition.

Gingerbread Cookie Cutter

Gingerbread Boy Recipe

By Georgianna Hager

Preparation time: 20 minutes. Makes about 2 1/2 dozen

Ingredients:

1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon vinegar
3 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ginger
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Instructions:

Cream shortening with all the sugar gradually (cream thoroughly)
Blend in molasses
Sift 1 1/4 cups flour with spices and salt and stir into mixture
Add vinegar and remaining 2 1/4 cups flour, alternating with buttermilk
Chill dough in refrigerator, and then roll out to a thickness of 1/4 inch on a lightly floured board
Dip gingerbread cookie cutter in flour each time before using and press firmly and evenly into dough
Place gingerbread boys on baking sheet and bake 10-15 minutes in moderate oven (350-375 degrees F)
Place cookies on wire rack to cool
Enjoy frosting with your creative design (frosting recipe below)

Gingerbread Boy Recipe

By Anne Bayless Hager

Preparation time: 20 minutes. Makes about 2 1/2 dozen

Ingredients:

1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 egg
4 teaspoon orange peel
2 tablespoon dark corn syrup
3 cups flour
2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cloves

Instructions:

Cream butter and sugar
Add egg and mix
Add orange peel and corn syrup, mix
Stir in dry ingredients
Chill dough and then roll out 1/4 inch in a slightly floured board
Dip gingerbread cookie cutter in flour each time before using and press firmly and evenly into dough
Place gingerbread boys on baking sheet bake at 375 degrees F for 5-6 minutes
Place cookies on wire rack to cool
Enjoy frosting with your creative design

Frosting Recipe for Gingerbread Boy Cookies

By Anne Bayless Hager

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoon milk
1 tablespoon Meringue Powder (egg white powder)
4 cups confectioner sugar (1 box)
Pinch of salt
Food coloring

Instructions:

Mix to cream butter, add milk and vanilla and then gradually add half of sugar on low speed
Add meringue powder and gradually add rest of sugar but do not over mix (you can add a little more milk if it is too stiff)
Add specific color or colors