Gingerbread Bears

Gingerbread Bears
I got this from my friend, Betsy. We had a great time making them one afternoon. She and Rachel got creative dressing their bears in clothes and hair made from the dough.

• 
  1 cup butter
  2/3 cup dark brown sugar – packed
  2/3 cup molasses
  1½ tsp vanilla
  1 beaten egg
  4 cups flour
  ¾ tsp baking soda
  1½ tsp cinnamon
  1 tsp ginger
  ½ tsp ground cloves

• Melt butter and then, over low heat, stir in brown sugar and molasses. Increase to medium heat and stir until sugar dissolves and the mixture is smooth.
  
• Removed from heat and pour into a mixing bowl.
  
• Stir in vanilla and let the mixture cool 5 minutes.
  
• Stir in beaten egg.
  
• In another bowl, combine the remaining dry ingredients.
  
• Add this to the butter mixture and mix until well combined and doughy.
  
• Chill 2 hours to overnight.
  
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare bears on ungreased cookie sheet.
  
• Prepare the bears by making a series of balls. One about 1½ inches for the belly. One about 1 inch for the head. Four about ½ inch for the paws. Two small balls for ears. Then assemble the balls to make a bear.
  
• The dough is easy to work with, but can get sticky. Keep some flour on hand.
  
• He can be sitting up or laying flat.
  
• You can make his belly more oval shaped.
  You can use a toothpick or other tool to add facial features and a belly button.
  You can make clothes or accessories or even make other animals.
  
• Bake 8 – 10 minutes.
  Cool on a rack.