Gingerbread Cookies with Royal Icing

• 1 (17.5 ounce) package sugar cookie mix
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 cup dark molasses
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Royal Icing
• 2 large egg whites or 5 tablespoons meringue powder
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
• Sanding sugar, if desired

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Cookies: In a large mixing bowl, blend all ingredients together and chill for up to 1 hour.
3. Roll dough out on floured board about 1/8-inch thick.
4. Cut desired shapes with cookie cutters and place onto sheet pan.
5. Bake for 8 minutes in preheated oven.
6. Let cool to room temperature before decorating.
7. With a hand mixer, beat the egg whites with the lemon juice or extract until frothy.
8. Add the sifted powdered sugar and beat on low speed until combined, smooth, and shiny.
9. Turn to high and beat approximately 5 minutes until stiff and glossy.
10. Transfer to a pasty bag or zip top bag to pipe onto cookies.
11. Decorate, if desired.

sugar cookie, egg, allpurpose, butter, pumpkin pie spice, ground ginger, dark molasses, vanilla, icing, egg whites, lemon juice, sugar, sanding sugar

Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sandra-lee/gingerbread-cookies-with-royal-icing-recipe2.html (may not work)