Gingerbread Dough - For Men and Houses

¼ cup butter
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup molasses
3 ½ cups flour
½ tsp salt
1 tsp soda
¼ tsp cloves
½ tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
¼ to 1/3 cup water

Mix 1st 3 ingredients together. Add dry ingredients alternately with water Dough should be pliable
and not sticky. Roll dough to thickness of 1/8 to ¼ inch on greased cookie sheet. Cut out shapes and
peel away excess dough. Bake at 300 degrees for 20 minutes. While hot, check with pattern and trim
off if needed. The gingerbread should be very hard when cool. If necessary, return to oven for 5 to 10
minutes. It is best if made 1 to 2 days in advance, but I have assembled them the same day after they
are thoroughly cooled. You will have been luck on a dry (not rainy) day.