Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• 2 cups brown sugar (one light, one dark)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup hot water
• 4 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 a nutmeg, freshly grated
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground allspice
• 1 dash cloves (freshly ground if possible)
• 50 cranks freshly ground pepper
• 1 egg white
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Directions

• Mix the butter and sugars.
• Dissolve the baking soda in the hot water, beat into the butter.
• Whisk the dry ingredients and mix into the dough. If it's too wet, add another 1/4-1/2 cup flour. Divide into thirds and place on plastic wrap (wait a few minutes and the dough firms up and becomes less sticky). Wrap and chill overnight.
• Roll dough out using flour (don't try using powdered sugar to roll this out). Cut into shapes (it is a bit awkward to roll and cut this dough, but it will work). Place on a baking sheet and bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes (you may want 5 minutes more if they aren't firming up enough--but they will get very crisp when they cool).
• Beat the egg white, add the sugar and beat until thick. Add the lemon juice to thin it out (you want a slightly thin frosting. Spread very thinly on the cookies (this frosting might run out before done).

Notes

• Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 197 Calories; 9g Fat (43.1% calories from fat); 3g Protein; 25g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 25mg Cholesterol; 160mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1 1/2 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 0 Fruit; 2 Fat; 1/2 Other Carbohydrates.

Nutrition