In his book “The Prairie Years”, Carl Sandburg told a story of Abraham Lincoln and his love of gingerbread.
During one of Abraham Lincoln’s debates with Stephen Douglas in 1858, things were a bit heated when debating the issues of the day.
There was a quiet pause of the hectic debates and Abraham Lincoln, known for his story telling (and jokes!) shared a personal story of his youth growing up in Indiana and his love of gingerbread.
“When we lived in Indiana,” Lincoln said, “once in a while my mother used to get some sorghum and ginger and make some gingerbread. It wasn’t often and it was our biggest treat. One day I smelled the gingerbread and came into the house to get my share while it was it was still hot. My mother had baked me three gingerbread men. I took them out under a hickory tree to eat them. There was a family near us poorer than we were, and their boy came along as I sat down. Abe,’ he said, “gimme a man.’ I gave hime one. He crammed it into his mouth in two bits and looked at me while / was biting the legs off my first one. ‘Abe, gimme that other’n.’ I wanted it myself, but I gave it to him and as it followed the first, I said to him, “You seem to like gingerbread.’ ‘Abe,’ he said, ‘I don’t s’pose anybody on earth likes gingerbread better’n I do- and gets less’n I do ….”
The story was a big hit with those attending the debate, and was also picked up by newspapers reporting the debate. Because the story became so well known, President Lincoln would often share it to visitors at the White House.
Due to Abraham Lincoln’s mother’s original recipe for Gingerbread Cookies being lost in history, we can only try and replicate.
When making the cookies today, I couldn’t help but to think of Abraham Lincoln as the smell of gingerbread filled the house and the happiness of my family enjoying the cookies – just like Abraham Lincoln once did in his lifetime.
Gingerbread Cookies
Ingredients
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
3/4 cup molasses
Directions
In a large mixing bowl, sift the flour, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and baking soda.
In a separate large mixing bowl, blend the butter and brown sugar until combined. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and then the molasses. Slowly add the flour mixture.
Mix well after each addition of flour. The dough will be stiff! I actually had to use my hands at one point to mix.
Divide the dough in half.
Flatten the dough into 2 thick circles and wrap in plastic wrap.
Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until firm enough to roll out.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Roll out, cut into desired shapes and bake until the cookies are golden brown – about 7 to 10 minutes.
You can eat warm from the oven or if you wanted to ice and decorate…let the cookies cool for at least an hour. Then have fun icing and decorating 🎄⛄️
The Historical Homemaker 