📖 Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This prevents sticking—trust me, I've learned this the hard way!
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, and salt. Make sure those spices are well combined. Don't be shy!
3. In a separate bowl, cream together the butter and sugars (brown and white) until light and fluffy. This takes a little elbow grease, but it's worth it. A stand mixer or hand mixer is your friend here!
4. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the molasses. Make sure to mix well after adding each egg. Don't over-mix though!
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Over-mixing can lead to tough gingerbread—a common mistake!
6. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness. If it's too sticky, add more flour. The goal is a nice, manageable dough.
7. Use cookie cutters to cut out your desired shapes. I used fir tree shapes for a festive touch, but get creative—stars, snowflakes, even gingerbread men work great!
8. Place the cut-out gingerbread on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the edges are set and slightly firm. Don't overbake!
9. Let the gingerbread cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. Cooling completely is crucial for frosting.
10. Once the gingerbread is completely cool, prepare your frosting by beating together the butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Add more powdered sugar if needed to achieve desired consistency.
11. Frost your gingerbread fir trees! Be creative; you can add some extra festive sprinkles or even a tiny bit of green food coloring to your frosting. Have fun with it!
12. Once frosted, allow the gingerbread to set for a bit before serving. And enjoy your delicious, festive, and absolutely amazing fir gingerbread!