Chewbacca Gingerbread Cookies
With the new Star Wars movies premiering around the holidays, Chewbacca gingerbread cookies are the perfect snack to sneak into the theater!
Make the Dough
Ingredients (makes 24 cookies)
-3 cups flour
-1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
-3/4 teaspoon baking soda
-1/4 teaspoon salt
-1 tablespoon ground ginger
-2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
-1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
-1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
-6 tablespoons unsalted butter
-3/4 cup brown sugar
-1 egg
-1/2 cup molasses
-2 teaspoon vanilla
Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
In a separate bowl, beat butter, brown sugar, and egg on medium speed until blended. Mix in the molasses and vanilla until blended.
Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until blended.
Divide dough in half and wrap with plastic or wax paper. Refrigerate for two hours (and can be kept in the fridge for up to 4 days).
Prepare the Dough and Bake the Cookies
Preheat oven to 375 F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface. Cut out cookies with gingerbread man cookie cutter. Place cookies one inch apart on sheet. Using a fork, gently press into the cookies to create a fur effect. If the dough gets too soft, pop the sheet in the freezer to firm it up.
When finished arranging the cookies, place the cookie sheet in the freezer for 10 minutes before baking to help hold the shape.
Bake cookies for about 8 minutes. Remove and cool.
Decorate the Cookies
Ingredients
-vanilla frosting (about 1 T)
-black frosting (about 1/4 cup)
-sprinkles
Once the cookies have cooled, take black frosting and make a sash either by piping or using a knife (Chewie's sash is actually from the right side, so if you're going for authenticity, don't forget like I did!). Then place the sprinkles in the frosting. Alternatively you can use some of the vanilla frosting to pipe the exterior shell pieces.
Using either a piping bag or plastic bag with the corner snipped off, pipe two eyes and a nose using black frosting. Use the same technique with the vanilla frosting to pipe the mouth.