Remember the bake sale that Mazzy, Harlow and I did for Cookies for Kid’s Cancer earlier this year? We raised a few hundred dollars to help fund pediatric cancer research. To keep that momentum going, my plan is to post a new cookie recipe every month. These cookie recipes might be from someone else’s Cookies for Kid’s Cancer bake sale, from the book “All the Good Cookies” written by Gretchen Holt-Witt (the founder of the organization) or a recipe from one of you.

Every month, you’ll be given the opportunity to purchase a “virtual cookie” as part of the Mommy Shorts team. It’s like a virtual bake sale!

December’s Cookie of the Month is “Surefire Gingerbread Cookies” from Hannah Kluger, who was a contributor to the book. She learned the recipe from her mom and now makes them with her own kids every holiday season.

INGREDIENTS (yields about 6 dozen cookies):

2 sticks (1/2 pound) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/4 cup of water

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/2 cup molasses

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

Dried currants or candies for decorating

Royal icing for decoration (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Place the butter and water in a large glass bowl and place in microwave. Microwave on high for 1 minute or until butter is melted. Add the sugar and molasses and stir until smooth.

2) Place the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a separate bowl; mix well and gradually add to the butter mixture, stirring with a wooden spoon. Stir until all flour is incorporated, using your hands to work all of the flour in if all of the flour in if dough becomes too stiff to stir.

3) Divide the dough in half; shape each half into a disk; and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours and up to 3 days.

4) Preheat the oven to 350*F. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.

5) On a lightly floured surface, use a lightly floured rolling pin to roll the dough 1/8 inch thick. Cut with 2 1/2-inch cookie cutters and place 1 inch apart on the prepared cookie sheets. Decorate with currants or candies now, if using. Transfer to the oven and bake for 8 to 11 minutes, rotating the cookie sheets on the oven racks halfway through the baking time. Cool on the cookie sheets for 3 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining dough on cool cookie sheets.

6) If decorating with royal icing, decorate after cookies are completely cool.

7) Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

If you’d like to purchase a “virtual gingerbread cookie,” please click here. Even $5 makes a difference and all donations will go directly to Cookies for Kid’s Cancer.

If you’d like to submit your own cookie recipe for a good cause, email your recipe and a photo of the finished product to allie@mommyshorts.com with the subject line “I’m a Good Cookie.”

This Sunday, December 10th, Cookie’s for Kid’s Cancer will be holding their annual Family Fun Day in NYC, from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. at appleseeds in Chelsea. I am on this year’s committee and my whole family will be there!

Family Fun Day is an awesome weekend event in support of a great cause with lots of kid-friendly holiday activities including Gingerbread Cookie Decorating, Snow Globe Making, Chocolate Dipping Stations, Cupcake Art, Candy Sushi Making, Magicians, Musicians, and much more. And if that’s not enough, the event will also be attended by some of the best pastry chefs in New York, like Milk Bar’s Christina Tosi, who will be on hand doling out her holiday cookies. Remember when Mazzy and Harlow got to sample birthday cake truffles and cereal milk ice cream at Milk Bar? It all comes full circle.

If you’d like to purchase a ticket, you can do so here.

I hope to see you there!

In case you missed it, here’s the video of our bake sale a few months ago. Mazzy and Harlow did everything from start to finish and I thought it was a great way to introduce my kids to what it’s like to support a cause that they can understand.

If you want to read more about Cookies for Kid’s Cancer or how to throw your own bake sake in support, click here.