Merry Christmas, Tropophilia readers. As my gift to you, I’m sharing my family’s top secret, blow-your-mind, eat a bazillion cookies, gingerbread recipe. I maintain that this is the best holiday cookie recipe you’ll find. Enjoy and thanks for a great first year of Tropophilia!

Me and my brothers (I'm in the overalls), Christmas 1986
Ansley Gingerbread
Ingredients:
- 2/3 Cup Shortening
- 1 Cup Sugar
- 1 Egg
- ¼ Cup Molasses
- 2 Cups All Purpose Flour
- 1 tsp. Salt
- 1 tsp. Baking Soda
- 1 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
- 1 tsp. Ground Ginger
- 1 tsp. Ground Cloves
- 1/2 tsp. Ground Nutmeg
Instructions:
Mix dry ingredients. In separate bowl, mix shortening and sugar. Add egg and molasses to sugar mixture; beat until smooth. Add dry ingredients to wet mixture; mix completely. Chill in refrigerator (at least 3 hours; best overnight).
Roll 1/8” thick slab (on sheet coated in flour or parchment paper); cut into fun shapes and bake atop parchment paper on a cookie sheet at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.
Subscribe by email


- "Sunday Cooking…With the Internet", posted by Taylor on March 2, 2008
- "Introducing the TROPOphy", posted by Jarred on January 11, 2008
- "Name three songs you’d put on a road trip mix tape.", posted by Taylor on January 22, 2009
- "Do You See What I See?", posted by Jarred on April 29, 2008
- "New to Me in ‘08: Music", posted by Taylor on December 29, 2008