Groundhog Day Cookies!!

Even if you don’t have a groundhog cookie cutter- and I would be surprised if you did- these is a really nice cookie recipe.

Groundhog Day is just around the corner. I like to celebrate this holiday by making up a batch of groundhog cookies. Not made from groundhogs, mind you, but shaped like them. 

The recipe comes from my dear friend, Cindy Kotula, whose late husband Mike was from Punxsutawney, P.A. She also gave me a groundhog-shaped cookie cutter. Any cookie cutter works. These ginger-snap type cookies are good no matter what shape they end up as.

Groundhog cookie cutters are available at some baking supply stores and online. They come out a lovely groundhog brown and are positively yummy.

Spiced Groundhog Cookies

2 c. flour

2 t. cinnamon

1t. each ground ginger, ground cloves, ground allspice  and baking powder

1/2 t. each baking soda and salt

1/2 c. butter, softened

1 c. sugar

1/2 c. molasses

1 egg yolk

Sift dry ingredients together and set aside. Beat sugar and butter until smooth and stir in molasses and egg yolk. Stir in dry ingredients and chill dough at least an hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough 1/8-inch thick on lightly sugared surface. Cut out with cookie cutter and place cookies on greased baking sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes. Cool slightly before removing from baking sheet. Makes 12-15 large groundhogs or 3-4 dozen small ones.

Happy Groundhog Day!