Gingerbread Cookies

1/2 c. butter or margarine, room temp.1/2 c. packed brown sugar1/2 c. molasses1 egg3 c. all-purpose flour1 tsp. baking soda2 tsp. ground cinnamon1 tsp. ground ginger1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg1/2 tsp. ground allspicePreheat oven to 350°F. Grease baking sheets. In a large bowl, beat together butter, brown sugar, molasses, and egg until fluffy. Add flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice, beating until blended. Use immediately or wrap and refrigerate up to 1 week. On a floured surface, roll dough 1/4 inch thick. With lightly floured cookie cutters, cut into desired shapes. Place 1 inch apart on greased baking sheets. If cookies are to be used as Christmas tree ornaments, use a plastic drinking straw to cut a hole in each cookie, 1/2 inch from top edge, removing excess dough. Bake 8-12 minutes, depending on cookie size, or until firm but not dark. cool 10 minutes on pan; then remove to racks to cool. Decorate cookies as desired. Makes about 20 (5-inch) cookies.

(Cookies)