Gingerbread Boys with Chocolate Pants

     Back by popular demand...

          I used to make these little Gingerbread Boys with Chocolate Pants every holiday season; by the hundreds.  The past few years I've taken a break from baking them -- gingerbread boy burn-out.  I continued to make the cookie dough, but in the shape of snowflakes instead, and covered in blue and white powdered sugar icing studded with silver French dragées.
          But this year I decided it was time to resurrect the little boys with chocolate pants.  I have never been a fan of soft, thick gingerbread cookies.  This recipe makes a nice, crisp cookie if the dough is rolled thin.

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1 1/2 teaspoon vinegar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 3 cups unbleached flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 12 ounce bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter plus additional if necessary
• Cinnamon Red Hots
• Powdered sugar icing -- made by mixing powdered sugar with milk or cream

1.  In a large heavy saucepan, mix together butter, sugar and molasses with the vinegar.  Bring to a boil.  Cool.  Add egg.  Sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and ginger.  Add the salt.  Add dry ingredients to the molasses mixture.  Mix well and chill.  Roll out to 1/8-inch thickness.  Cut out shapes.  Bake at 375˚F for 8 to 12 minutes.
2.  In a double boiler, over simmering water, melt the chocolate chips with the butter.  You want a consistency similar to heavy cream.  Dip cookies into the chocolate and place on a parchment lined baking sheet.  Drop a "cinnamon red hot" onto the chocolate.  If a face is desired, mix together powdered (confectioners') sugar with a little milk or cream and using a tiny (#2) piping tip, make a face with dots and hair with a squiggle ;-)
 

TAKE a LOOK: