It is time for The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap reveal. I always have fun participating in this holiday group. I send a dozen cookies to three different bakers. Three bakers send a dozen cookies to me! It is always fun to see and taste what cookies represent the holidays to others. I also love the fact that this group donates to Cookies For Kids Cancer with help from our sponsors! Such a great cause. This is the fourth year I have taken part in the cookie swap, so it is kind of the becoming a tradition for me. Which is how I ended up making gingerbread man cookies. Traditions are every where at this time of year, so I decided to go traditional with my cookies. So I mixed ’em up, rolled ’em out, gave them eyes and a mouth, and fancied them up a bit with a bow tie, because you should dress for the holidays! 
(recipe from Very Merry Cookie Party)
Cookies 5 cups Flour 1 teaspoon Baking Soda pinch of Salt 1 tablespoon Ground Ginger 2 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon Ground Allspice 1 cup Butter 1 cup Sugar 3/4 cup unsulfured Molasses 1 Egg 1 teaspoon Vanilla
Icing
3/4 cup warm Water 5 tablespoons Meringue Powder 1 teaspoon Cream of Tartar 2.25 pounds Powdered Sugar 
Using a medium bowl, mix together your flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, and allspice. Set aside for a few minutes. 
Use your mixing bowl on medium speed to beat your butter and sugar for 2-3 minutes. 
Add your molasses, egg and vanilla.
Add your flour mix to the bowl, using low speed.
Don’t over mix, just mix until combined.
Your batter should be slightly stiff and sticky.
If it is not medium stiff, add more flour.
Just add it a tablespoon at a time.
Use parchment paper, and place some
of your dough on the top of a piece.
Cover the dough with another piece of parchment.
Roll your dough out between the two pieces. You
want a 1/4″ thickness. Do this for all of your dough,
then refrigerate it for several hours until it is chilled.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees,
Take your dough out, one sheet at a time.
Cut out your gingerbread men, and bake for
7-8 minutes.
While they are baking, re roll the left over dough,
on the parchment again and chill before
cutting out again.
Let cool completely.
Make your icing.
For complete directions, go here.
Decorate your man however you want!
Don’t forget to add his bow tie!
To make it, put two dots next to each other.
Use a food paintbrush, and pull some frosting from
each dot to the space between them.
Square off each side of the bow. Let dry overnight. 
Share with friends and family! Interested in participating in The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap next year ?
Go here to find out more!
A great big huge shout out and thank you to
Lindsay and Julie for all their work and dedication to making
this Cookie Swap a success year after year. Thank you for joining me today! Here are some other recipes you might enjoy: 
