A gingerdead man is similar to the usual gingerbread man, but without the candy eyes and icing smile. It’s a skeletal figure with bones traced in white icing. Gingerdead man cookie cutters go fast in October. But a treat that’s perfect for Halloween is jarring in December. That’s true of the gingerdead man on the cover of my 7th Five-Ingredient Mystery, Gingerdead Man. Leave a comment on this post to win a copy of the book.
Cookies on the cover of Gingerdead Man |
Ingredients
1⁄2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
1⁄2 cup molasses
1/4 cup water
2 1⁄2 cups sifted flour
1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1⁄4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
3⁄4 teaspoon ground ginger
Other Necessities: Gingerdead man cookie cutter/stamp, white icing (preferably homemade, not what's shown in the photo), and a rolling pin.
Instructions
Cream together the sugar and butter in a large bowl.
Add molasses and water.
Butter and sugar ready to be creamed |
Molasses ready to mix into the butter and sugar |
In a smaller bowl, mix the flour, salt, baking soda, and spices. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the other mixture. Chill the dought, covered, for 3 hours or overnight in the fridge.
After chilling the dough, roll it out 1/4" thick on lightly floured parchment paper or another floured surface.
Cut the shape with one side of the cookie cutter and stamp the bones on by pressing the other side onto the gingerbread man shape.
Remove the dough around the shapes and save it to roll and cut out more cookies.
If you've used parchment paper, you can slide it with the gingerbread men onto a cookie sheet. If not, use a spatula to carefully transfer the cutout shapes to a nonstick cookie sheet.
Though the dough was stiff, rolling it out was easy |
Excess dough peeled from around the shapes |
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes. Remove them from the oven and let the cookies cool on the sheet or transfer them to a rack.
Baked but not yet iced |
When the cookies are cool, fill in the indentations with white icing piped through a small opening. I used store-bought cookie icing, and I don't recommend it. It has the consistency of Elmer's School Glue, which just might taste better. Make your own royal icing or other cookie icing.
Aren't these guys creepy? |
What happened when I squeezed the icing container too hard |
Ready to serve on Halloween night |
This recipe, adapted from one in Epicurious, makes 10-12 five-inch cookies.
About Gingerdead Man
When Santa keels over after eating a gingerbread gift at the holiday tea party Val caters, she and Granddad must stop a killer from baking more deadly treats.
During Bayport's Dickens of a Holiday festival, Val is hosting a private tea party serving the costumed volunteers, who range from Dickens divas like Madame Defarge and Miss Havisham to Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Past. Santa and Mrs. Claus also come to tea. An unexpected guest arrives, "shrouded in a deep black garment" like the eeriest Dickens ghost, and hands out gingerbread men with white icing skeleton bones. Though the creepy treat called a gingerdead man looks like a Halloween leftover, cookie addict Santa can't resist it. When the man in red turns blue, Val and Granddad have a cookie-cutter killer to catch.
During Bayport's Dickens of a Holiday festival, Val is hosting a private tea party serving the costumed volunteers, who range from Dickens divas like Madame Defarge and Miss Havisham to Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Past. Santa and Mrs. Claus also come to tea. An unexpected guest arrives, "shrouded in a deep black garment" like the eeriest Dickens ghost, and hands out gingerbread men with white icing skeleton bones. Though the creepy treat called a gingerdead man looks like a Halloween leftover, cookie addict Santa can't resist it. When the man in red turns blue, Val and Granddad have a cookie-cutter killer to catch.
Read the first chapter of Gingerdead Man and find buy links at Kensington Books.
Subscribe to my newsletter (a book giveaway in each newsletter) at my website where you’ll find recipes, mystery history, and a free culinary mystery story: https://www.mayacorrigan.com
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Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mayacorriganbooks
Amazon Author Page: https://tinyurl.com/yakfszxo
Goodreads Page: https://tinyurl.com/y84uzloa
HAPPY HALLOWEEN GIVEAWAY
Are you ready for Halloween? Will it be different this year than in previous years? Leave a comment by Oct 21 to win a copy of Gingerdead Man. Include your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win. I can send a book only to someone with a US address. Instead of the book, I'll mail cozy mystery swag to a winner in Canada.
No trick or treating this year.
ReplyDeletejtcgc at yahoo dot com
We don't have many trick or treaters in our neighborhood in the best of years. This year, I expect fewer, but but I'll leave treats by the front door in case.
DeleteI'm ready! My bone wreath has been on my door since Sept. 1, haha. The ghost lights and witch hats are hanging and more ghosts light up my short sidewalk. Halloween is my favorite holiday. We never get trick or treaters where we live and my daughter is away at college now, so I mainly decorate for myself. zukeeper.geo (at) yahoo (dot) com
ReplyDeleteGood reason to decorate--to please yourself. Thanks for commenting.
DeleteSince we live in the country, we have never had many if any trick or treaters. However, I am going to miss being able to go to many Halloween functions that we normally attend like hayrides and the community downtown evens. We still do some decorating. It's my way of shifting from summer into fall enjoying that holiday before everything goes to Christmas. Everything this year has been different so didn't expect anything less for Halloween. Praying that our nation will get back to "normal" with a vaccine found very soon to prevent more illness and death from this dread disease.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the recipe for gingerbread men. Decorated they are so cool and sound yummy to boot.
Appreciate the chance to win a copy of "Gingerdead Man" which is on my TBR list. LOVE the cover and LOVE your books! Shared and hoping to be the very fortunate one selected.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
Thank you for commenting, Kay, and good luck in the drawing for the book.
DeleteI don't think there is any trick or treating this year but last year we only had 1 kid. It's mostly retired people on our street. Love the cover and cookies!! Thank you for this chance! pgenest57(at)aol(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThank you for leaving a comment. We have very few trick or treaters in our neighborhood too.
DeleteOur community will be opening downtown stores. Each will have a basket of candy. Kids can take one or two pieces. It's on the honor system. Those so inclined were asked to 'donate' candy for the evening activities. Love your gingerbread man skeleton. But. don't think I'd have the patience for it. The cookie. Yes. I'll do. bessdeepotter84 at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteKaren B
ReplyDeleteMy door and room are decorated but we will miss the school kids visit here in assisted living! Your book and cookies look delicious. :)
kpbarnett1941(at)aol(dot)com
This year there is not allowed trick or treating but I hope that the children will enjoy Hallowe'en with other options. They have been disappointed for months. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI hope the same thing. Children are resilient, so they will find a way to enjoy the holiday.
DeleteI am ready for Halloween. I am thinking of setting out treats in a bowl at the end of my driveway this year. That way kids and parents won't have to come up to the door, so it eliminates more person to person contact. I just LOVE those skeleton gingerbread men! Lol what a cute idea! And goes perfectly with the book! And the book sounds like a great read! Thanks for the chance to win! ladyofshalott03(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteWelcome today. Thank you for this recipe. I love simple recipes. And this looks wonderful. I am ready for Halloween. Simple decorations this year. This book looks like it is fun. quilting lady 2 at comcast dot net
ReplyDeleteHi. Thanks for the chance and the recipe. Happy Monday!!
ReplyDeleteThose cookies are so cute. I think my granddaughter would love to make them. We've been decorated for Halloween for a couple of weeks now. Inside the house and the back yard look pretty scary - or cute. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletesallycootie(at)gmail(dot)com
The book looks fun! I love stories about the holiday seasons! We decorate for fall which includes a ghost or two👻👻👻
ReplyDeleteThings are very quiet this year and I believe that there will be no trick-or-treating. I will miss seeing the costumes on the little ones. In view of that, we haven't made preparations for Halloween. Thanks for sharing the Gingerdead Men idea and recipe. That can be a fun project to enjoy for the household.
ReplyDeletelittle lamb lst at yahoo dot com
Ready for Halloween! We will be doing a little trick or treating but not as much as in the past.
ReplyDeletebmedrano34@yahoo.com
Not sure how we are going to handle Halloween. It usually involves all the local kids running house to house in our neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to yesterday's post?
libbydodd at comcast dot net
A glitch.
DeleteI haven't done much decorating yet. I don't know if we will get any trick or treaters this year, but I will still celebrate because my birthday is on Halloween. bella_ringer@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWe haven't had trick or treaters for years. They mostly go to festivals or trunk or treat activities. 3labsmom@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of gingerdead men! I need to be on the lookout for those cutters
ReplyDeleteCarsonsmum@gmail.com
I bought my cookie cutters from Amazon.
DeleteInstead of giving out candy this year as house to house trick or treating is discouraged, I plan to put sticker sheets at the doors of the children on my street very early in the morning so that there will be no contact.
ReplyDeleteLisacobblestone(at)aol(dot)com
Good idea, Lisa. Thanks for the suggestion!
DeleteI am ready, but not sure how many trick or treaters we will get this year. quackers502000@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteWe decorate for Halloween. Don`t get any trick or treaters.
ReplyDeletectymice(at)gmail(dot)c0m
In my sister's neighborhood they're not actually trick-or-treating, but they are dressing up & walking around the neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteturtle6422 at gmail dot com
What a great idea. People inside can watch the parade of costumes go by.
DeleteTrick or treating will be very different this year in our city. They have four hours to go to houses who have a green sign from the city that they are participating in giving out treats. Houses with red signs are not giving out candy. I'm only giving candy out to my friend's granddaughters.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
We're ready! Trick-or-treating is still on here and shouldn't be much different. Kids are all excited to have Halloween on a Saturday this year.
ReplyDeletekozo8989(at)hotmail(dot)com
It will definitely be different this year. Pubic Health has recommended, and our elected officials agree, kids should not go door to door. I feel bad for the little ones. mgshepherd2003@yahoo.ca
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what my city is doing about Trick or Treating this year. Both of my kids are in their 30's. I usually throw a Halloween Party but can't this year because I will be recovering from a surgery. And yeah, that Covid stuff, too. 😒
ReplyDeleteI'm lazy when it comes to gingerbread cookies. I use a box mix. I do have zombie cutters and have fun making those, but I like the gingerdead idea, too.
Fingers crossed for winning the book!
Thanks for the chance.
Shell618(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks for your comment. I hope your recovery goes well.
DeleteI'm not sure what my city is doing about Trick or Treating this year. Both of my kids are in their 30's. I usually throw a Halloween Party but can't this year because I will be recovering from a surgery. And yeah, that Covid stuff, too. 😒
ReplyDeleteI'm lazy when it comes to gingerbread cookies. I use a box mix. I do have zombie cutters and have fun making those, but I like the gingerdead idea, too.
Fingers crossed for winning the book!
Thanks for the chance.
Shell618(at)yahoo(dot)com
I don't think they are doing trick or treat this year where I live. Maybe next year. I love culinary mysteries. Thank you for the recipe and this great give-away. 1cow0993(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteNothing special going on. Probably read a book.
ReplyDeletePugpower63 at Gmail dot com
We always dress as a couple, and my husband chose this year's, Drax and Mantis from Guardians of the Galaxy. We will still dress up for a photo, but no costume contest at work this year and no parties. I am going to be substituting in Kindergarten the day before Halloween, so I'll wear my costume, but I'm skipping the blackout contacts because I thought it might freak out the kids!
ReplyDeleteMy area is discouraging trick or treating. Those gingerdead men are great.
ReplyDeletewskwared(at)yahoo(dot)com
Halloween is totally different this year. There's no trick or treating. We will just have a quiet family meal with treats at home. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
I was never that fond of Halloween so won't miss it this year. I do hope people with kids are able to have some fun. They can buy their own candy or treats for their kids. Stay safe and well.
ReplyDeleteI think it will be very different this year, I think they will be cancelling it where I live! tWarner419(at)aol(dot)com
ReplyDeleteHalloween will be different this year. We usually attend a live radio show put on friends at a local destination hotel. That's not happening this year, so we'll stay home and snuggle on the couch with the cats. aut1063(at)gmail(dot) com
ReplyDeleteSo cute! Love these cookies! ~ Daryl
ReplyDeleteThanks, Daryl.
Deleteyes no gatherings this year but we still decorated for Halloween.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance!
Jess
maceoindo(at)yahoo(dot)com
We usually get about 400 trick or treaters each year. This year, I’m sure there will be a smaller amount. Our neighborhood goes all out with Halloween decorations. We’ve had ours up since the beginning of the month. Those cookies look great!
ReplyDeletedonnaing1(at)gmail(dot)com
I’m ready for Halloween but I think it will be different this year. I don’t think we’ll have trick or treaters. Sad. These cookies look fantastic. I’ll ask my hubby to make them. 😁 I would love to read this book! It appeals to me greatly.
ReplyDeleteMeljprincess AT aol DOT com
I love this series, and thank you for sharing the recipe. I bought candy. I'm not sure we're going to get any trick-or-treaters, but we might because it is on a Saturday. Thank you for this chance! areewekidding(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteHi Robyn, I'm glad you like the series. Thank you for commenting.
DeleteLove your books and cant wait ti try this recipe with my kids and grandbabies pyrosmatches69@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoy the books. Thank you for commenting.
DeleteHalloween is my favorite holiday. I can never decide what I want to be so I try to go to at least three events so I can do more than one character. We usually do Zombie Crawl, too and dress as Zombies in costume. Last year, we were Zombie Vikings. This year, we're not going to miss out. I've got four Zoom events planned and I'm going as a Voodoo Mistake, an EllipsesMaster (a twisted Ringmaster), a Dead & Breakfast Proprietor and a Cat-tastrophe. macsterdaly(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteA Halloween Zoom party! What fun!
DeleteI will pass out treats for those youngsters to come to our door. I'm sure there will be fewer kids out than in previous years. I continue to put up my Halloween decorations (just a few outside and several in the windows) because I have the decorations, might as well use them and enjoy them. dbahn(at)iw(dot)net
ReplyDeleteI will have treats on hand if we have any kiddos come by. If course I will buy my favorite in case of leftovers.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI think your book, and cookies look soooooo cute! I haven't heard if there will be any trick or treating this year But I think as it stands right now, if I had little ones I would not take them out this year, with everything as it is and going on There will always be next year (I hope a better, and safer year) I can't wait to read this book of yours Thank you for sharing it
Sorry I forgot my email peace4ever1983@att.net
DeleteI will be at home watching movies on Halloween! I would love to win this book! lindaherold999(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteLinda I love your idea Halloween movies! But also a pizza
DeleteThanks for your comments, Linda and Peace. Are there any not-too-scary Halloween movies? I can't sleep after watching scary ones.
DeleteIt will be different, but we are enjoying tbe abundance of Halloween decorations in our neighborhood. Several people are stepping up with those.
ReplyDeletebrowninggloria(at)hotmail(dot)com
Love all the ideas. Thanks for the chance
ReplyDeletejudytucker1947(at)gmail(.com)
We live at the top of a hill in a rural area so never have had trick or treaters but my house is decorated inside and out my hubby got me pumpkins and we are making an apple pie battling RSD so i watch as he makes. I send out 20 cards and money to friends kids and also all 10 of our grandkids plus nieces and nephews for Halloween. Then I am mailing the same amount of advent calenders and also 10 Hallmark Christmas books 1 per family day after Thanksgiving then we mail for the next holiday which will be Easter for them! That is our tradition as my grandkids live in Ca and my hubbys live here in Ia and also Mi so we want to always let them all know that we miss them. peggy clayton ptclayton2(at)aol(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI won't be doing much for Halloween this year. My baking skills go like how you squeezed the icing tube....lol
ReplyDeleteThank you for the chance!
Thanks for your comment, Beth. I'm glad to know other bakers have such issues!
DeleteSo cute! And I’d love to win your book—ty for the chance! Legallyblonde1961@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThese look great! Can’t wait to try!
ReplyDeleteCONGRATULATIONS to Brenda on winning a copy of GINGERDEAD MAN.
ReplyDeleteThank you to everyone who left a comment on this post. It was fun reading how everyone would celebrate Halloween 2020.
Happy Halloween!