Gingerbread Cookies with Essential Oils

Nothing says Christmas-time like baking gingerbread cookies (while listening to Michael Buble, of course). This year I decided to incorporate my new found love of using essential oils in the kitchen, and the result was magnificent. It would be cruel of me not to share it with you!

INGREDIENTS

• 3 cups wholemeal flour

• 1/2 tsp sea salt

• 1/2 tsp black pepper

• 1/2 tsp baking soda

• 1/4 baking powder

• 1 large egg

• 1/2 cup coconut oil (melted)

• 1/2 cup blackstrap molasses

• 1/2 cup coconut sugar

• 3 drops doTERRA ginger essential oil

• 3 drops doTERRA cinnamon essential oil

• 2 drops doTERRA clove essential oil

• 1/ 2 cup powdered sugar

• 3 tsp water

• 1-2 drops doTERRA lemon Essential oil

METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 180 C

2. Combine the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl

3. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the coconut oil and molasses and whisk until combined. Add the coconut sugar and continue to whisk until combined. Add the egg and whisk until the mixture is thoroughly blended and smooth.

4. Pour the liquid mixture into the dry and mix until a dough consistency forms.

5. Place your dough on some baking paper and roll with a rolling pin to 1/2 cm thickness. Use your cookie cutters to cut out shapes and place each cookie on a baking paper lined baking tray. You can roll together the scraps and repeat this step until you have used all the dough.

6. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit with racks in the middle and upper third of the oven. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Lightly flour your working surface and roll out one of your discs out until it’s ¼ inch thick. If the dough is very hard or crumbly, just roll it as best you can and then let it rest for a few minutes to warm up. Repeat until you’ve successfully rolled the dough to ¼ inch thickness.

7. Bake your cookies for 8-10 minutes. Try and pull them out when they are still a bit soft, because they will crispen more as they cool.

8. Once the cookies have been removed from the oven, cool on a wire rack.

9. To prepare the icing, combine the powdered sugar and water until a thick icing forms. Add the essential oil and mix through. Wait until the cookies are completely cooled before adding the icing.