Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife.
  2. Combine the flour and next 7 ingredients (flour through cloves) in a bowl, and set aside.
  3. Combine granulated sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat at medium speed of a mixer 5 minutes.
  4. Add molasses and egg white; beat well.
  5. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture; beat at low speed until well-blended.
  6. Divide dough in half, and shape each half into a ball, and wrap in plastic wrap.
  7. Chill 1 hour.
  8. Preheat oven to 350°.
  9. Working with 1 half of dough at a time (keep remaining half chilled until ready to use), roll the dough to a 1/8-inch thickness on a heavily floured surface; cut with a 2 1/2-inch boy or girl cookie cutter.
  10. Place gingerbread cookies 1 inch apart on baking sheets coated with cooking spray.
  11. Arrange currants on cookies as buttons.
  12. Bake at 350° for 8 minutes.
  13. Remove from pans; cool on wire racks.
  14. Combine the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla in a small bowl.
  15. Spoon into a decorating bag or a heavy-duty zip-top plastic bag with a tiny hole snipped in 1 corner of bag, and decorate as desired.