Gingerbread Family

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Beat butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl with a stand mixer. Add molasses and beat until well mixed. Stir together flours, baking soda, spices, and salt in a separate bowl. Alternately beat dry ingredients and water into butter mixture. Blend well after each addition. You may need to add a bit more water to bring the dough together. The dough will be thick and heavy; if a stand mixer is not available, finish mixing the dough by hand.

Roll out dough on lightly floured waxed paper or nonstick mat. Cut gingerbread people or other favorite shapes with a floured cutter. Place cookie cutter on rolled dough and press down evenly. Pick up shapes with metal spatula to transfer to baking sheets. Continue to knead dough scrapes to roll and cut more cookies. Decorate gingerbread people with currants for eyes, buttons, mouths and even belly buttons.

Bake cookies for 7 to 9 minutes, turning baking sheet 180 degrees midway through baking. Check doneness by pressing on cookie. If the dough springs back, the cookies are done. Remove from oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool.