# The Ingredients You'll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 teaspoons ground ginger
03 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
04 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
05 - 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
06 - 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
07 - 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
08 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
→ Wet Ingredients
09 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
10 - 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
11 - 1/4 cup molasses
12 - 1 large egg
13 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
→ For Decoration (optional)
14 - 1 cup powdered sugar
15 - 2 to 3 teaspoons milk or lemon juice
16 - Festive sprinkles, colored sugars, or melted white chocolate
# Step-by-Step Instructions:
01 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, baking soda, and salt.
02 - In a large bowl, beat unsalted butter and packed brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
03 - Add molasses, egg, and vanilla extract to the creamed butter mixture and mix until fully combined.
04 - Gradually mix in the dry ingredient blend, stirring just until a soft dough develops.
05 - Divide dough into two equal portions, shape each into a rectangle, and wrap with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
07 - On a lightly floured surface, roll each dough rectangle to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut into sticks approximately 1/2 by 4 inches.
08 - Place sticks 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets.
09 - Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges are just set but the centers remain soft. Cool on sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
10 - For decoration, mix powdered sugar with enough milk or lemon juice to create a thick glaze. Drizzle over cooled sticks and finish with sprinkles or melted white chocolate as desired.
