Posted by LladyRusty 8:03:20am

Source: The Best of Byerly's - vvdailypress.com

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
3/4 cup light molasses
Grated zest from 1 orange
3 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

Cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg, molasses and finely chopped orange peel. Blend in remaining ingredients. Refrigerate, covered, for several hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Roll dough on floured surface to 1/8 inch thickness for crisp cookies or 1/4 inch thick for softer cookies. Cut out with gingerbread man cutters.

Place one inch apart on lightly greased baking sheets. Bake until lightly browned; start checking after 6 minutes, as they burn quickly. Cool and decorate as desired.