Shouting With Glee

You know Santa's Reindeers:

Dasher and Dancer
and
Prancer and Vixen

Coment and Cupid

and

Donner and Blizten

And when they all get together,
it's time for Santa to board his sleigh
and allow
Rudolph to guide him across the world!

The last 10 days before Christmas are always the most highly anticipated! As traffic slows and more cars and people are out and about, when lines get longer to see Santa at the mall, and the weather cools... it is easy to see visible signs that a Merry Christmas is fast approaching.

Besides, it's so much easier to count down in single digits than in double digits!

Gingerbread Reindeer Countdown to Christmas

You'll find yourself singing this favorite classic all the way to Christmas morning, checking off each Reindeer as you fastly approach the big day! When only Ruldoph is left, Santa is on his way! (...and when Blizten is getting his reins and saddle affixed - it's my Birthday!)

Gingerbread Dough
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 cup molasses
2 sticks of butter
2 eggs
Mix together until smooth

Add
4 teaspoons cinnamon
4 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cloves
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
6 cups flour
Stir until dough is tacky

Refrigerate for 1 hour
Roll out to ½ inch, use Ann Clark Ltd. Reindeer (Moose) Cookie Cutters to cut out shapes
Transfer to baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes (5-7 minutes if enjoying as a treat!)
Allow to cool

I was invited to review Ann Clark Ltd. cookie cutters for the holiday season, and I just adore them! They have definitive and fun designs - Butterflies to Reindeer, with multiple styles and types to choose from - copper to traditional.

Use the tip of a small knife to cut eyelets between antlers
Rotate with gentle pressure until hole is completely through the cookie

This dough will make enough ornaments for Reindeer and Friends, plus plenty more to enjoy... or keep that dough in the fridge and stay tuned for another fun gingerbread activity!

Frosting
Powdered sugar and water
Mix sugar with enough water until sugar reluctantly falls off spoon; decorate
Reserve a little frosting to dye red; pipe names on Reindeer
Allow frosting to set 1 - 2 hours

Hang as ornaments on tree, or string ribbon through eyelets to hang as a garland

When my cookie cutters arrived they were packaged each with a festive twine ribbon attached to a name card and a recipe (they even have a delectable, social networking cookie blog!) They were not only professional, but so alluring that I couldn't wait to flour up my countertops and get to baking. I've enjoyed these kitchen utensils on more than one occasion since their arrival, and I already have plans to use them on many more occasions.

Ann, of Ann Clark Ltd., began making gifts out of her home in 1989 with a zealous passion but a humble allotment, and yet through hard work Ann Clark Ltd. has become the largest cookie cutter company in the industry. They hand sculpt each cookie cutter in Vermont and offer a wide array of cutters in an affordable price range.

I recommend these cookie cutters to anyone with a kitchen! Right now, recieve 10% off your order through December 2009 - just mention Fahrenheit 350° at check out!