Gingerbread Men Cookies

1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup butter, softened
3 Tbsp molasses
1 egg
2 Tbsp milk
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cardamom
1/2 tsp ground cloves
red hot candies

In a large bowl, beat sugar, butter, and molasses until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg and milk.  Stir in all remaining ingredients except red hots until smooth.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

On floured surface, roll out 1/3 of the dough at a time to 1/8 inch thickness.  Cut with floured gingerbread men cookie cutter.  Place on cookie sheet and decorate (I use the red hots to make buttons on their chests.  You can also use currants or raisins.  If the cookies are big enough, you can add faces).  Bake at 350 degrees.  Depending on the size of your cutouts, the baking time will vary.  I have a 2" tall cutout that I bake for 5-6 minutes.  For our exchange, I used a 3 1/2" cutout and baked for 8-9 minutes.  I like them soft.

Recipe adapted from Pillsbury.