1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup granulated (white) sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1/3 cup water
3 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. cloves (can omit)
1/2 tsp. salt

Cream butter and sugar together.  Stir in molasses and water.  Add remaining ingredients and mix well. 

On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to the right thickness for cutting with cookie cutters (or about 1/4″).  Using cookie cutters, or a knife, cut out gingerbread men and women, circles, stars, or whatever you want. 

To make hanging ornaments, use a drinking straw to poke a hole at the top.  Any bakable decorations can be added at this time – such as currant eyes, or buttons.  Carefully place on greased cookie sheets and bake at 350*F for 8-10 minutes.

After baking, you can glaze the tops by brushing with warm corn syrup (although this step is not necessary and can be omitted, it does look nice).  After cooling, decorate as you like with simple decorator’s icing, (plain white, or colored with food coloring, in a tube or a small ziplock bag with the very tip of one bottom corner cut off), frosting, and/or candies.

You can also make \’lollipop\’ cookies using popsicle sticks.