Years ago, when my children were very young, I made sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies.  We spent hours together in the kitchen baking and decorating the cookies.  I must have gone through three or four icing recipes until I was able to get it 'just right'.  As the kids grew older and we all got busier, the tradition died out and was replaced with simple, less time consuming recipes.  Then, I became allergic to dairy and my whole recipe world changed.  It's been years since I've made gingerbread men and, quite frankly, I thought I could never eat them again.  

Until, that is, I discovered Google search and alternatives for butter.

Today, I made my very first batch of vegan gingerbread cookies and they are as delicious as I remember them to be.  I haven't delved into the icing yet.  Leaving that for the kids (now grown up) to do on Christmas Eve.  This recipe takes some time.  Grab your kids, an apron, and have fun!

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1-1/2 cup sugar in the raw (you can put it in the Ninja and grind it smaller if you'd like)
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 c unsweetened almond milk (not vanilla flavored)

4 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
2-1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 F.

In a medium sized bowl, add the sugar, oil, molasses and milk.  Mix with a wire whisk.
In a mixing bowl sift together the flour and the rest of the dry ingredients.  Add the wet.  Mix until well incorporated.  Roll dough into a ball and slightly flatten.  Wrap with plastic wrap and chill for at least one hour.

Roll half of the dough onto a silicone baking mat to approximately 1/8 inch.  Not greased.  May add a bit of flour.   Cut out your shapes. Remove the 'negative' dough leaving the shapes in place.  Bake for approximately 5-7 minutes depending on the thickness.  When the edges start to brown, they are done.

Allow to cool for a few minutes.  Less than five is plenty.  Use a metal spatula to transfer to a cooling rack or paper towels.  Repeat until dough is used.  Refrigerate cookies.  

To ice, mix 1/2 c powdered sugar with 1/2 TBS unsweetened almond milk or your favorite icing.

Gather your ingredients
Mix then place on plastic wrap
Wrap and chill
Take out of refrigerator and roll out to 1/8 inch
Cut out your shapes
Remove unwanted dough
Bake and enjoy!
Vegan, dairy-free gingerbread men